JRU downs Benilde in Filoil preseason faceoff

Jose Rizal University took down De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, 81-68, on Sunday in their faceoff in the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup.

The Heavy Bombers took control of the game in the second half after they outscored the Blazers, 25-13, during the said frame and ended it at 71-54.

The Mandaluyong-based squad led by 18 points, 74-56, early in the fourth period before eventually sealing the win.

JRU had balanced scoring, with Marj de Leon posting 12 points and nine boards. Shawn Argente and Ry dela Rosa also had 12 points apiece, while JL delos Santos and Patrick Ramos each contributed eight points. Theo Pabico had seven markers while MJ Barrera and Agem Miranda listed six points each. With the win, JRU improved to 2-4.

Miggy Corteza had 18 points while Migs Oczon had 15 points in the Benilde loss which brought them down to 5-3.

This was the first meeting between the teams since their match in the NCAA Season 98 back in November 8, 2022 that ended in controversy, when the incident with John Amores resulted in the game being stopped in Benilde's favor.

Earlier, Far Eastern University won over Centro Escolar University, 79-70, and National University escaped St. Clare College, 82-79. Adamson University kept Ateneo de Manila University winless, 61-60.

Filoil action returns on Monday as Mapua University takes on San Sebastian College-Recoletos, while the Bulldogs face Batangas' very own FAITH College in the morning games. Benilde and Ateneo will try to bounce back from losses when they go against Lyceum of the Philippines University and CEU, respectively, in the afternoon.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA Integrated News