University of the Philippines (UP) flexed its muscles early as it booked a 79-65 win over National University (NU) to capture its third straight title in the 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup late Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Veteran playmaker Gerry Abadiano delivered an impressive all-around performance as the Fighting Maroons sent a strong message that they are determined to defend their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament title.

Abadiano finished with 13 points, three steals and two rebounds to emerge as Most Valuable Player while Francis Nnoruka added 15 points and 12 rebounds and Gani Stevens chipped in 13 points, nine rebounds, and four assists to underscore the Maroons’ well-balanced offensive attack.

But more than that, the Fighting Maroons brought home the prestigious ECJ Perpetual Trophy for emerging as a three-time champion in this event that aims to help teams boost their respective preparations for the coming UAAP and National Collegiate Athletic Association seasons.

Abadiano’s heroics came when he fired seven points to lead UP to a 13-6 blast that gave them a six-point lead midway through the second quarter for a 46-33 lead entering the halftime break.

Their advantage ballooned to as big as 23 as the Bulldogs struggled from the field, where they shot just 31 percent, and the charity stripe, where they missed 16 of 36 attempts, to dictate the tempo the rest of the way.

The Fighting Maroons ended the elimination round as the third seed out of the UAAP Group before surviving College of Saint Benilde in the quarterfinals and outdueling erstwhile undefeated De La Salle in the semifinals to make it to the finals.