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La Salle's Jacob Cortez and FEU's Jorick Bautista. Handout/Filoil
MANILA -- De La Salle University and Far Eastern University only have the same thing in mind: book their tickets to the crossover quarterfinals of the 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
The Green Archers and the Tamaraws cross paths on Friday at PlayTime Filoil Centre in San Juan with heavy playoff implications hanging in the balance.
Undefeated through three games, La Salle wants to preserve its immaculate slate especially after drawing solid performances from transferees Jacob Cortez, Kean Baclaan, and Mason Amos.
But it was actually rookie Mikey Cortez who turned heads in the Taft side’s 69-64 win over National University last June 25. With that, coach Topex Robinson is hopeful that the growth for his side continues as they remain on top of the UAAP Bracket.
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The Tamaraws, however, have proven to be no pushovers and they want to bounce back after a 75-65 loss to University of the Philippines last June 12.
Expect Jorick Bautista, Janrey Pasaol, and Mo Konateh to carry the fight for the Morayta side as they aim to rise up from their 3-1 record.
Adamson and NU, both carrying identical 1-3 records, will also fight for their lives when they play one another at 2 p.m.
The Soaring Falcons are coming off a 71-67 overtime win over University of the East with Matty Erolon emerging as a dependable scorer for coach Nash Racela, while the Bulldogs want a big bounce back with Steve Nash Enriquez carrying the torch.
Emilio Aguinaldo College (6-1) is also jostling for position in the NCAA Bracket when it plays also-ran San Beda (2-4) in the 12 p.m. curtain raiser.
It’s a big morale boost for the Generals of coach Jerson Cabiltes to make it through to the next round, but the quest for improvement never stops for the likes of Wilmar Oftana, Nico Quinal, and Kyle Ochavo.
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