UP edges La Salle to cop Filoil Preseason title

University of the Philippines copped the 2023 Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup because it defeated fellow UAAP staff De La Salle University, 87-76, on Wednesday on the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

Heroes have been aplenty for the Diliman-based squad with Mark Belmonte taking the scoring cudgels with 18 factors, 12 of which he dropped within the first half the place the Fighting Maroons began to tug away.

Lebron Lopez dropped 16 markers whereas CJ Cansino, JD Cagulangan, and Malick Diouf poured in 10 factors every as UP copped its first-ever FilOil preseason title.

La Salle, the undefeated staff heading into the finals, was led by the backcourt duo of Evan Nelle and Mark Nonoy. Nelle churned out 19 factors, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds whereas Nonoy chimed in with 13 markers.

Meanwhile, final 12 months’s champion National University settled for a 3rd place end after defeating University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 85-77, behind Patrick Yu, who dropped 16 factors, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and two steals off the bench.

Foreign student-athlete Omar John registered a double-double outing with 12 markers and 13 boards laced with three assists and two blocks whereas Jolo Manansala listed 14 factors.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News