DEFENDING champion FEU-NRMF-Gerry’s Grill flashed its old, deadly form to bring down erstwhile unbeaten Colegio de San Lorenzo-V Hotel, 91-57, and boost its chances in the 2017 MBL Open basketball championship at the PNP Sports Center in Camp Crame.
Glen Gravengard and Clay Crellin provided the 1-2 punch for the Tamaraws, who virtually settled the outcome of the match with an avalanche of baskets in the first 10 minutes.
Gravengard, the Fil-German sensation who is seeking to land a spot in the PBA, scored 21 points with four three-point shots, while Crellin, the league’s runaway MVP awardee last year, added 18 points capped by a couple of thunderous dunks.
Veteran Erwin Sta. Maria added 12 points for the Nino Reyes-managed Tamaraws, who secured their fifth win in six matches in this eight-team tournament sponsored by Smart Sports, Star Bread, Dickies Underwear, Ironcon Builders and Gerry’s Grill.
All other players fielded in by coach Pido Jarencio, including former UST star Kareem Abdul and Moustapha Arafat, did well for the victory they dedicated to assistant team manager Ricky Simpao.
Simpao, a staunch supporter of the team, passed away due to heart attack at 2 a.m. last Saturday. He was 54.
“This win is for our manager [Simpao],” said Gravengard, who hit his first four shots in the Tamaraws’ blinding start that took the fight out of the Griffins.
Dominic Formento finished with 14 points for the Boni Garcia-mentored Griffins,who never recovered after falling behind by double digits early in the game.
CdSL top gunner Soulemane Chabi Yo was also held to only five points—his lowest production in seven games—by the tight defense of Abdul and Arafat.
No less than PNP Chief Gen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa attended the game, along with MBL vice chairman Jimi Lim.
Gen. Dela Rosa, an avid sports enthusiast himself, gamely joined the players and league officials after the game.
“Stay in sports and enjoy the game,” Gen. Dela Rosa told players who took selfies with him.
The scores:
FEU-NRMF-Gerry’s Grill (91) — Gravengard 21, Crellin 18, Sta. Maria 12, Bautista 10, Gumabay 8, Abdul 4, Arafat 4, Diwa 4, Manalo 4, Zamora 2, A. Santos 2, J. Santos 2, Tan 0.
CdSL-V Hotel (57) — Formento 14, Castanares 11, Rosas 8, Paclarin 8, Alvarado 6, Chabi Yo 5, Borja 4, Laman 2, Gohar 3, De la Cruz 2, Nuyda 2, Paclarin 0, Calizo 0.
Quarterscores: 26-12, 44-21, 63-40, 91-57.
Game today (FEU gym)
6 p.m. FEU-NRMF vs. Diliman