CENTRO Escolar University starved Diliman College in the last two quarters and scored an 81-54 win to remain undefeated in nine matches in the Universities and College Basketball League at the Olivarez Sports Center in Paranque City.
With their pressure defense working very well, the Scorpions held the Blue Dragons to 18 points in the third and six in the last quarter to rampage to their 9th straight win.
They need only to beat the Technological Institute of the Philippines Engineers on Thursday to secure the No. 1 semis berth.
With Karlo Casino waxing hot, the rest also delivered that they hardly missed the absence of Congolese center Rodrigue Ebondo.
The 6’6” Ebondo was benched by coach Yong Garcia for unknown reasons.
The sweet-shooting Casino led the Scorpions with 24 points, including five triples in an impressive 7-of-13 shooting from field, while Joseph Manlangit finished with 14.
With Ebondo’s absence, the Blue Dragons edged the Scorpions in the rebounding department, 41-40, but they found no answer to Casino’s red-hot shooting.
“That’s really our weaknesses. We always start slow. But I told them to give their best and they responded in the second half,” said Garcia, referring to their big 27-point lead, 77-50, with still 3:13 in the game.
Casino started the Scorpions’ breakaway, hitting a trey for a 15-4 run, giving them their first biggest lead at 24, with still 4:29 to go in the third period.
First Game
CEU 81 – Casino 24, Manlangit 14, Wamar 9, Guinitaran 8, Fuentes 6, Arim 5, K. De Leon 5, Aquino 4, Opiso 4, Quiminales 2, Veron 0, Umeanozei 0.
Diliman 54 – Torrado 9, Journacion 9, Mondala 9, Co, 8, Bauzon 8, Brutas 6, Sombrero 3, Villar 2, Tay 0, Cecilio 0, Alfaro 0, Corpuz 0
Quarters: 23-13; 43-30; 64-48; 81-54.
Games Thursday
(Olivarez Sports Center, Parañaque City)
12 noon – TIP vs CEU
2 p.m. – CDSL vs BulSU