MANILA, Philippines - University of the Philippines thwarted Diliman Preparatory School, 80-76, to post its first back-to-back victories in the first Jumbo Plastic Linoleum Cup 2014 at the Enderun Colleges gym in Taguig City over the weekend.
The Junior Maroons battled back in the third quarter behind Javi de Liano Gomez and Allane Barles then fended off their rivals’ own fightback in the stretch to carve out the win.
The Junior Maroons thus moved up to fourth in the eight-team tournament with an even 3-3 record. DPS fell to 0-4.
Meantime, Ateneo welcomed the return of brothers Matt and Mike Nieto as it scored a 93-59 rout of Adamson to stay unbeaten in six games in the tournament presented by Jumbo Plastic Linoleum.
Matt Nieto and Gian Mamuyac fired 16 points apiece while Mike Nieto had eight points and 11 rebounds.
The Nieto brothers missed the team’s first five games after anchoring the country’s bid in the FIBA Under-17 World Championship in Dubai last month.
Chiang Kai Shek College and Far Eastern University remained second and third, respectively, after scoring convincing wins over their respective rivals in the tournament backed Smart Telecommunications, K-tech Sports, Inc., Powerbest Marketing, CW Home Depot, Powerhouse and Dickies Underwear.
The CKSC Dragons streaked to their fifth straight in six games by mauling Hope Christian High School, 88-54, while the FEU Junior Tamaraws waylaid the University of Perpetual Help Altalettes, 96-64 for a 4-1 mark.