Filoil: Red Lions, Blue Eagles prevail over separate foes

MANILA, Philippines – Julius Armon turned in another stellar performance for the Red Lions in the 2012 Filoil Flying V Preseason Hanes Cup at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan after whiplashing the UE Red Warriors, 91-55 in the battle of Reds earlier.
 
Armon, who has been delivering consistently for the Red Lions finished with 17 points and three rebounds across his name.
 
Due to the defensive stops both teams made on each other, the Red Lions only had 11 points in the first while the Red Warriors was limited to a single digit output of five points. In the second, after adjustments were made, San Beda shifted the momentum towards their side as they enjoyed a seven-point spread at the half.
 
In the third, a 21-4 outburst led by the monster game of Armon gave the Red Lions an insurmountable 50-27 lead at the 3:50 mark.
 
UE found it hard to catch up and keep pace with the Red Lions as they found themselves trailing by as much as 26, 66-40 at the 8:50 mark of the fourth. It was also the widest margin for the Red Lions.
 
Rome Dela Rosa chipped in 12 points alongside eight boards, two assists and one steal as the Red Lions claimed win number five in as many games.
 
UE’s Roi Sumang was the only Red Warrior to finish in double figures with 14 point, five boards and four dish-offs.

Ateneo secures 4th win
 
In the second game, the Ateneo Blue Eagles clinched their fourth win as well as the “King of Katipunan” title after they bested the UP Fighting Maroons, 69-60 in yet another Battle of Katipunan in the preseason.
 
Four Blue Eagles finished in double figures in a closely fought game with Greg Slaughter leading the way with 15 points and twelve boards. Tonino Gonzaga and Nico Salva had 12 apiece while Justin Chua added 11.
 
Entering the third with a nine point lead, the Blue Eagles found themselves grasping for air when UP ignited a decisive run that pulled the Fighting Maroons within 3, 48-45 with a little over 2 minutes left.
 
Juami Tiongson however threw in a backbreaking three pointer at the 2-minute mark of the quarter to stop the bleeding for the Blue Eagles who regained a 51-45 lead.
 
In the fourth, a 5-0 start by the Maroons pulled them back together to stay within three, 50-53 with 8:37 left but Tiongson came to the rescue again for the Eagles with another long distance connection for a 56-50 count.
 
UP managed to bring down their deficit to just five, 54-59 with 4:53 left but the collective efforts of Kiefer Ravena, Gonzaga and Nico Salva gave Ateneo another comfortable 65-54 edge going into the last two minutes of the game.
 
Rookie Raul Soyud was the only Fighting Maroon to finish in double figures with 16 points and nine boards. Mark Lopez only had six points but he grabbed eleven boards for UP who outrebounded Ateneo by one, 50-49.
 
Box Scores:
 
1st game
 
San Beda (91) — Armon 17, Dela Ros 12, J. Pascual 8, Caram 8, Koga 8, Ludovice 8, Moralde 6, Abarcar 6, Amer 5, Lim 5, K. Pascual 4, Dela Cru 4, Adeogun 0, Mendoza 0, Bonsubre 0, Sorela 0.
 
UE(57) — Sumang 14, Galanza 6, Sumido 6, Noble 6, Alberto 5, Belleza 4, Flores 3, Duran 3, Villarias 2, Valdez 2, Casajeros 2, Razon 2, Hernandez 2, Javier 0.
 
Quarter Scores: 11-5, 29-22, 62-37, 91-57
 
2nd game
 
Ateneo (69) – Slaughter 15, Gonzaga 12, Salva 12, Chua 11, Tiongson 8, Ravena 5, Sumalinog 2, Elorde 2, Erram 2, Buenafe 0, Golla 0, Lim 0.
 
UP (60) – Soyud 16, Silungan 9, Padilla 9, Hipolito 8, Lopez 6, Romero 6, Ball 4, Gamboa 2, Montecastro 0, Mbah 0, Manuel 0, Asilum 0, Reyes 0.
 
Quarter Scores: 19-17, 39-30, 53-45, 69-60.- Rappler.com