Hubert Cani (9) scored 11 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter to push FEU past La Salle. File photo/ Richard Esguerra, ABS-CBN Sports

MANILA, Philippines—Hubert Cani took charge down the stretch to power Far Eastern University past De La Salle University, 76-69, in another in the quarterfinals of the 2018 FilOil Flying V Preseason Cup on Thursday.

Cani scored 11 of the Tamaraws' last 13 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:30 to play and the dagger step-back jumpshot with just 27.8 seconds remaining.

Thanks to Cani's crunch-time heroics, the Tamaraws are now through to the semifinals of the preseason tournament, where they will play either Ateneo de Manila University or Colegio de San Juan de Letran.

Cani finished with a game-high 22 points in just 25 minutes, while Prince Orizu and Arvin Tolentino each contributed 10 for FEU.

READ: San Beda, CSB dispatch UAAP foes to set up semis showdown

The Tamaraws had a slim lead for most of the game, before back-to-back 3-pointers by Jollo Go put La Salle on top, 54-52, with 8:18 to go in the final frame. The two teams traded buckets from that point on, before Aljun Melecio knocked down a difficult triple for a 65-63 La Salle lead with 3:46 to go.

It turned out to be the last time the Green Archers would be on top. Cani responded by drilling a wide-open 3-pointer in the next possession, and the Tamaraws caught a break when Andrei Caracut was called for traveling in La Salle's next trip down.

Cani then waltzed into the lane for a lay-up that made it 68-65, but Justine Baltazar responded with a hook shot to make it a one-point game with 2:30 to go.

At that point, Cani was just getting started. The former National University Bullpup sank a jumper for a 70-67 lead, and after two free throws by Caracut, Cani shook off Go's defense for a step-back jumper that made it 72-69 for FEU with 1:03 to go.

A missed 3-pointer by Caracut in La Salle's next possession set up Cani's greatest hit, another difficult step-back shot with time winding down, which he coolly drained in the face of Go's defense.

That put FEU up 74-69 with 27.8 seconds to go, and ended any thoughts of a La Salle comeback. 

Caracut led La Salle with 15 points, while Melecio added 14. Baltazar also had 14 points on top of 8 rebounds and 4 blocks. 

The Green Archers bowed out of the tournament after finishing the elimination round with a 7-2 win-loss record.

The Scores:

FEU 76 — Cani 22, Orizu 10, Tolentino 10, Comboy 6, Eboña 6, Escoto 6, Tuffin 6, Iñigo 3, Stockton 3, Gonzales 2, Parker 2, Jopia 0, Nunag 0, Ramirez 0.

LA SALLE 69 — Caracut 15, Baltazar 14, Melecio 14, Samuel 12, Dyke 6, Go 6, Manuel 2, Bates 0, Capacio 0, Corteza 0, Herrera 0, Lim 0, Manaytay 0.

Quarters: 15-11, 35-27, 52-46, 76-69.

For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.

ai vision