Latest news with #Abadiano
GMA Network
13-07-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
UP, NU set up FilOil Preseason Cup Finals duel
University of the Philippines' three-peat bid will go through a tough challenger in National University as the two schools arranged a finals showdown in the 18th FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup on Sunday. The Fighting Maroons overcame an early deficit to oust De La Salle University in their semifinals duel, 83-78, behind the troika of Rey Remogat, Gerry Abadiano, and Gani Stevens. Trailing by as much as 15 points and staring at a 45-31 halftime deficit, UP slowly got its act together to close out the third period all tied up with the Green Archers at 56-all. It was still La Salle's game in the fourth, but Remogat buried back-to-back booming triples that gave UP a 78-73 cushion in the final 23 seconds. Abadiano scored three straight points for a more comfortable 81-75 lead for the defending UAAP champions before La Salle made another desperate comeback attempt on a clutch corner triple from Kean Baclaan. But time just ran out for the Taft crew as Abadiano sealed the victory with a pair of free throws to send UP to another finals stint. Meanwhile, NU had the same story in its semifinals showdown against University of Santo Tomas, erasing a 14-point deficit to claim a 96-84 victory and advance to the championship round. Jake Figueroa once again starred for the Bulldogs, roaring with a team-high 24 points on 4-of-6 three-point shooting while also grabbing five rebounds, five assists, and five steals. The Bulldogs didn't lack help from the supporting crew with Lenard Santiago chipping in 13 markers and three blocks. UP now looks to complete a rare three-peat feat in the preseason showcase against an NU team that won the championship in 2022 before the Fighting Maroons went on capturing the next two. —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
11-07-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
UP survives Benilde scare to advance to FilOil Preseason semifinals
Reigning UAAP champion University of the Philippines narrowly escaped De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, 82-80, in the 2025 FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup quarterfinals on Friday. The Fighting Maroons survived a wild 7-0 closing run from the Blazers led by the tandem of Tony Ynot and Allen Liwag to advance to the semifinals. Gerry Abadiano led the way for UP with 24 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal while big man Gani Stevens and veteran Harold Alarcon chipped in 12 and 11 markers each to help UP keep its three-peat bid alive. Abadiano was shining all throughout the game, sending the Fighting Maroons to an 82-73 lead after a jumper late in the fourth quarter. But the Blazers, who ended up as second seed in the NCAA bracket, staged a fightback that threatened the title defense of UP. Ynot instigated the rally with a huge three-pointer before Liwag sank a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to four, 82-78, with 1:13 left in the game. The two connived in the succeeding play with Liwag securing the board after a missed basket from Abadiano and Ynot dishing the pass to him that would further trim the gap to just two at 82-80. Benilde had two chances to either tie the game or win it, but transferee Raffy Celis missed a layup and muffed an open three-pointer as the Fighting Maroons cruised to the two-point victory that would set them up with a semifinals clash against either La Salle or Arellano University. —JMB, GMA Integrated News
