Even with the departure of Veejay Pre, the FEU Tamaraws showed their grit after powering past the UE Red Warriors in the 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
No Veejay Pre, no problem for the FEU Tamaraws.
In their first game in the FilOil EcoOil 18th Preseason Cup, the Tamaraws powered past the UE Red Warriors, 74-57, at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan on Thursday, May 22.
The victory comes just a day after Pre announced his departure from FEU.
[ALSO READ: UAAP: Veejay Pre bids emotional farewell to FEU, calls it 'hardest decision ever']
The Tamaraws also spoiled new head coach Chris Gavina’s debut for the Red Warriors in the preseason tilt.
After a close first half, which saw FEU hold on to a slim one-point lead, the Tamaraws broke free from the Red Warriors in the third quarter.
Jorick Bautista and Adam Nakai led the charge to give FEU a nine-point lead heading into the fourth, 52-43.
With momentum on their side, the Tamaraws pulled away in the final frame, building a 20-point lead at 72-52 with 1:30 left in the game after Bautista’s free throws.
Bautista finished with a team-high 18 points, while sophomore Jedrick Daa added 14 markers in the win.
John Abate put up 22 points in the losing effort, backed by Nico Mulingtapang’s 12.