It’s UE vs NU

The University of the East (UE) Red Warriors and the National University (NU) Bulldogs will battle for the preseason crown after they defeated their respective opponents in the semifinals of the Filoil Flying V Hanes Preseason Cup yesterday at the Arena in San Juan City.

UE came back from a huge 16-point deficit to beat the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers, 77-75, while NU routed the San Beda Red Lions, 74-57 to set up the winner-take-all finals matchup slated June 12.

The Red Warriors were down, 34-50, but rallied with a 27-19 fourth period that broke the backs of the Tigers.

Charles Mammie provided the telling basket as his make off a pass by Roi Sumang put UE in front, 77-73, with 21 seconds remaining. Paolo Pe trimmed the deficit to two but that was as close as UST got after Ed Daquioag’s potential game-tying basket went in and out at the final buzzer.

Sumang, JM Noble and Mammie had 16 points.

Kevin Ferrer led UST with 19, Karim Abdul added 14 while Jeric Teng and Aljon Mariano chipped in 12 each for the Tigers.