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Belmonte shines as UP bags first-ever Preseason Cup title

Sports | Basketball

Belmonte shines as UP bags first-ever Preseason Cup title

By Manila Bulletin Sports

By MARK REY MONTEJO
Mark Belmonte exploded for the University of the Philippines as the Fighting Maroons claimed their first-ever FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup title with an 87-76 win over the De La Salle Green Archers on Wednesday, June 21, in San Juan.

*UP's Mark Belmonte. (FilOil EcoOil Sports' photo)*

UP showed grit from the beginning as Belmonte spearheaded an 8-0 run in the first quarter while also scoring 10 points of his total in the second period to help the Maroons hike a 45-26 lead at the half. In the fourth frame, DLSU managed to cut the deficit to just nine, 82-73, but UP kept its poise to hold off the defending champion which also got its first taste of defeat in the tournament. Belmonte led the Diliman-based squad with his 18 points and five rebounds while Francis Lopez added 16 points. Evan Nelle topscored for DLSU with 19 points, four rebounds and five assists while Mark Nonoy added 13 points in a losing cause.

Related Tags

UP Fighting Maroons De La Salle Green Archer

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