San Beda's Janti Miller against Mapua in the 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup, June 28, 2025 at the Filoil Centre in San Juan. Handout/Filoil
MANILA -- Janti Miller continues to impress for San Beda, with the Red Lions barging back into the win column of the 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup on Saturday at the expense of reigning NCAA champion Mapua.
Miller came up with the clutch plays in San Beda's 73-72 come-from-behind win against the Cardinals at the Filoil Centre in San Juan, scoring all but two of the Red Lions' last six points.
The Cardinals were clinging on to a 72-67 lead with 2:11 left before San Beda's Fil-Am first-year wing energized a 6-0 charge in the endgame to snap their two-game losing skid.
"I just asked the players to show some effort, some grit, and some effort in today's game," said head coach Yuri Escueta.
That, the Red Lions did and more, as they battled back from a deficit as high as 12 in the third quarter behind Yukien Andrada who wound up with 16 points built on four triples and six rebounds.
Jomel Puno then chipped in 14 points and eight rebounds of his own, while Miller provided 13 markers and three boards.
Their defense cranked up a notch in the endgame as well, as they forced Clint Escamis into two misses and Mapua into two miscues.
Cyril Gonzales had 23 points to top the scoring column for the Cardinals who absorbed their second straight loss to drop to 4-4.
With Mapua's sorry loss, Arellano rose to solo fourth in the NCAA Group thanks to its 92-76 beatdown of hapless San Sebastian.
The Chiefs leaned on to Maverick Vinoya’s 21 points to stretch their streak to four in a row and improve to 5-3.
Perpetual also kept rolling by overwhelming Lyceum, 94-79, to tie the Cardinals at fifth-place.
Kenji Duremdes and Shawn Orgo scored 15 and 14 points, respectively, in the Altas' third consecutive victory.
Renz Villegas delivered 20 points and three boards for the Pirates who sunk to a 1-6 slate, while the Golden Stags exited the preseason tourney without a win even after Ian Cuajao's 15 markers and five assists.
The Scores:
First Game
ARELLANO 92— Vinoya 21, Miller 10, Valencia 8, Geronimo 7, Ongotan 6, Cabotaje 5, Flores 5, Hernal 4, Borromeo 4, Libang 4, Abiera 4, Langit 3, Espiritu 3, Demetria 2, Buenaventura 2, Camay 0
SAN SEBASTIAN 76— Cuajao 15, Felebrico 12, Castor 8, Nepacena 8, Lumanag 8, Dela Rama 7, Dimaunahan 5, Cabilla 5, Gabat 4, Ricio 4, Gomez de Liaño 0, Lumbo 0, Pillado 0
Quarters: 21-22, 43-41, 69-58, 92-76
Second Game
PERPETUAL 94— Duremdes 15, Orgo 14, Alcantara 11, Abis 10, Sleat 9, Cristino 8, Maglupay 6, Casinillo 5, Gojo Cruz 5, Boral 3, Pizzaro 3, Nunez 2, Gelsano 2, Roluna 1, Tulabut 0, Magdangal 0
LYCEUM 79— Villegas 20, Peñafiel 13, Montaño 11, Daileg 9, Aurigue 9, Barba 6, Versoza 5, Casiño 2, Pallingayan 2, Matienzo 1, Aviles 1, Paulo 0, Almario 0, Fuentes 0
Quarters: 23-14, 45-32, 68-48, 94-79
Third Game
SAN BEDA 73— Andrada 16, Puno 14, Miller 13, Etulle 11, Culdora 7, Hawkins 4, Gonzales 3, Lina 2, Vailoces 2, Celzo 1, Jamora 0, Calimag 0, Bonzalida 0
MAPUA 72— Gonzales 23, Gulapa 13, Recto 8, Escamis 7, Cuenco 6, Delos Reyes 6, Igliane 5, Sapasap 4, Callangan 0, Lazarte 0, Concepcion 0
Quarters: 21-22, 42-44, 52-64, 73-72