Latest news with #FilOilEcoOilPreseasonCup
GMA Network
19 hours ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
EAC rookie EJ Castillo joins Steph Curry's training camp in China
By GMA Integrated News Before setting foot on the NCAA seniors basketball stage, EJ Castillo is already raising his game. The incoming Emilio Aguinaldo College rookie guard finds himself training alongside Steph Curry in China, giving him an extraordinary chance to learn from one of the greatest shooters of all time. The 19-year-old Castillo, a two-time Mythical Five member in the NCAA junior ranks, was among the select few invited to the Curry Camp 2025 in Chongqing, China, joining fellow young Filipino hooper Koji Buenaflor of the University of Santo Tomas in the four-day program. Castillo's participation in the camp is expected to further hone his skills ahead of NCAA Season 101, where the Generals are already seen as early contenders following their strong preseason form. EAC was coming off a rare quarterfinals appearance at the 2025 FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup before sweeping the U25 Cheng Hoo Cup 2025 in Indonesia in late July. —Bea Micaller/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
