MANILA -- The top spot in the NCAA bracket of the Filoil EcoOil 17th ECJ Preseason Cup is still up for grabs.

College of St. Benilde and Colegio de San Juan de Letran are vying for the No. 1 seed, with both squads putting up victories on Wednesday afternoon at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The Knights ended the elimination round with a 7-2 record after holding on for an 84-81 triumph against the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals. 

Deo Cuajao starred on both ends for Letran, putting up 22 points while registering a crucial block on Harvey Pagsanjan’s potential game-tying reverse layup. Jimboy Estrada and Bryan Alarcon then contributed 15 and 10 points, respectively, for Letran which pushed the 4-4 Generals to the brink of elimination.

"So far, hindi pa rin kami satisfied, but on the positive side, siguro percentage-wise, noong nagsimula kami April until this first week of June, from 5 percent naging 15 percent na kami. Pero malayo pa yung tatahakin ng team namin," said newly-formalized first-year head coach Allen Ricardo.

The Blazers, for their part, scored a 77-72 victory vs. University of Perpetual Help to stay a step ahead of the Knights.

Benilde's Mowell Morales in action in the Filoil EcoOil 17th ECJ Preseason Cup. Handout/Filoil

Mowell Morales and Matthew Oli each contributed 14 points for red-hot Benilde, now on a seven-game win run following a loss to open the preseason tournament.

However, St. Benilde coach Charles Tiu made light of the race for the top seed in their bracket.

"Whether we’re No. 1 or 2, it doesn’t matter, malakas naman lahat sa kabilang bracket. We’re gonna have four games, possibly five, in seven days if we make it to the semis. So it’s about being wise and preparing for the quarterfinals," he said.

The Blazers will have to beat EAC in the last day of eliminations on Thursday to secure the top seed. A win will give them an 8-1 record, while a loss would relegate them to a tie with Letran, which owns the head-to-head tiebreaker.

The Generals won four of their first five assignments in the preseason tournament, but have now dropped three in a row even after Nico Quinal’s 17 points. They now hope to upset Benilde and have help from other teams to have a shot at the next round.

On the other hand, the Altas bowed out sporting a 4-5 slate. Christian Pagaran paced them as always with 22 markers.

In other results, Mapua University downed Arellano University, 79-71, to improve its record to 5-4 and increase its chances at the quarterfinals. Aaron Fermin finished with a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds, while rookie Lawrence Mangubat registered 17 markers and five boards for the Cardinals, who now await the results of EAC and San Beda University’s (5-3) games tomorrow.

Jose Rizal University then scored their second win at the expense of San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 95-87. MJ Raymundo was two assists shy of a triple-double, recording 15 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, as Jonathan Medina backed him up with 20 points and eight rebounds for the 2-6 Heavy Bombers. 

UST's Mo Tounkara in action in the Filoil EcoOil 17th ECJ Preseason Cup. Handout/Filoil

In the lone UAAP game, University of Santo Tomas eliminated Adamson University, 58-54, behind Mo Tounkara’s 15-point, 10-rebound double-double. 

Cedrick Manzano, on the other hand, led the Soaring Falcons with 12 points, two assists, and two rebounds.

The Growling Tigers hope to book the UAAP group’s last playoff berth when they go up against Far Eastern University tomorrow.

The Filoil Preseason quarterfinals and semifinals are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, respectively, while the championship match tips off on Jun. 12.

THE SCORES:

FIRST GAME

LETRAN 84- Cuajao 22, Estrada 15, Alarcon 10, Nunag 9, Montecillo 8, Galoy 7, Javillonar 6, Dimaano 5, Jumao-As 2, Go 0, Baliling 0.

EAC 81- Quinal 17, Gurtiza 12, Pagsanjan 11, Umpad 8, Ochavo 8, Luciano 6, Jacob 6, Oftana 5, Tolentino 3, Devara 2, Loristo 2, Bagay 1, Angeles 0, Ednilag 0, Doria 0.

QUARTERS: 16-23, 45-51, 68-68, 84-81

SECOND GAME 

JRU 95- Medina 20, Guiab 16, Raymundo 15, Sarmiento 9, Panapanaan 8, Ramos 7, De Leon 7, Lozano 6, H. Raymundo 3, De Jesus 2, Bernardo 0, Benitez 0, Ferrer 0.

SAN SEBASTIAN 87- Escobido 22, R. Gabat 17, Aguilar 14, Are 13, Felebrico 12, Barroga 4, Lintol 2, Ronquillo 2,  Gabat 1, Maliwat 0, Pascual 0, Ricio 0.

QUARTERS: 25-20, 47-40, 66-59, 95-87

THIRD GAME

MAPUA 79- Mangubat 17, Fermin 14, Hubilla 9, Escamis 7, Recto 7, Jabonete 6, Cuenco 5, Pabilona 4, Bancale 2, Concepcion 2, Igliane 2, Abdulla 2, Pantaleon 2, Ryan 0.

ARELLANO 71- Ongotan 16, Abiera 10, Vinoya 7, Dayrit 7, Hernal 7, Geronimo 6, Borromeo 5, Dela Cruz 4, Tagotongan 3, Valencia 2, Miller 2, Libang 2, Camay 0, Capulong 0, Espiritu 0.

QUARTERS: 22-21, 44-44, 63-59, 79-71

FOURTH GAME

BENILDE 77- Morales 14, Oli 14, Ancheta 13, Torres 11, Liwag 8, Ynot 6, Turco 6, Ondoa 2, Galas 2, Cajucom 1, Sangco 0, Eusebio 0, Vanguardia 0.

PERPETUAL 72- Pagaran 22, Boral 14, Gojo Cruz 9, Movida 9, Orgo 8, Gelsano 4, Sevilla 4, Puizarro 2, Ayon 0, Valencia 0, Montemayor 0, Thompson 0, Nuñez 0, Cauguiran 0.

QUARTERS: 18-18, 50-34, 58-47, 77-72

FIFTH GAME

UST 58- Tounkara 15, Cabañero 8, Acido 8, Padrigao 7, Manaytay 7, Estacio 5, Paranada 3, Pangilinan 3, Crisostomo 2, Danting 0, Laure 0, Robinson 0.

ADAMSON 54- Erolon 12, Fransman 10, Mantua 9, Ignacio 7, Mudianga 6, Anabo 3, Ramos 3, Montebon 2, Manzano 2, Yerro 0, Ronzone 0, Sicat 0, Alexander 0. 

QUARTERS: 21-15, 37-32, 50-44, 58-54