Cardinals take quarterfinal spot as Blue Eagles pull out

MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo backed out of the Filoil Flying V Pre-Season MVP Cup yesterday, enabling Mapua to gain a berth in the quarterfinal round which starts today at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Eagles cited conflict in schedule in deciding to pull out of the tournament. They piled up five wins against a loss with one game remaining and could’ve easily made it to the next round along with groupmates Adamson, San Sebastian and Univ. of the East.

Instead, Mapua, which finished fifth with a 3-4 card, takes over Ateneo’s spot and will play UE at the start of the quarters starting at 4 p.m. today.

Paul Lee came through with back-to-back triples in the fourth quarter as the Warriors repulsed the Far Eastern U Tams, 63-53, to formalize their stint in the next round.

Lee’s treys held off the rallying Tams, who closed to within two, 45-47, on Ryan Garcia’s jumper, and the Warriors were never seriously threatened to close out with a 6-1 (win-loss) card.

UE thus finished tied for first with San Sebastian and Adamson in Group A with the Warriors hoping to keep their form heading into the next phase.

FEU wound up with a 3-4 slate in Group B.

La Salle thumped Letran, 94-81, to arrest a three-game skid and clinch a berth in the next round with a 4-3 card.

Maui Villanueva, who had to sit out La Salle’s losing stand against UE due to injury, scored 16 points and pulled down nine rebounds, while Bader Malabes added 12 and James Mangahas had 11 points.

The Archers and the Lions are shooting for quarterfinal berths in Group B.