CENTRO Escolar University (CEU) played short-handed because of the suspension of key players but still eked out an 82-77 victory over University of Santo Tomas (UST) on Saturday in the 2015 Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at The Arena in San Juan.
CEU Head Coach Edgar Macaraya slapped disciplinary actions on ace Scorpions Joe Vargas, Aaron Jeruta, Samboy de Leon and Jason Opiso but still drew big numbers from the rest as they hiked their record to 5-1 won-lost in Group B.
The Scorpions got their rhythm in the latter stages of the game behind the steady playmaking of Kenneth de Leon and the inside presence of big man Alfred Batino, who had 20 points and 12 rebounds in the game
CEU’s other big man, Rodrigue Ebondo, feasted on UST’s Christian Kakonda also in the crucial stages and sent the Tiger to the bench on five fouls.
Macaraya was mum on why he suspended his key players, saying “it’s a CEU family matter.” But he was proud the other Scorpions stepped up.
“Everyone played like a team today. This win shows how hard these boys work,” Macaraya said.
UST’s Ed Daquioag exploited mismatches against the Scorpions and was productive in the first half where he scored 23 points.
University of Perpetual Help, meanwhile, defeated Far Eastern University (FEU), 70-64, for the Altas’ fifth straight victory also in the men’s contest on Saturday.
FEU clawed back in the fourth after being down, 50-54, entering the final quarter to come to within one, 58-57, after Chester Tolomia buried a three-pointer with less than seven minutes left.
The Altas, however, had an answer to every FEU basket down the stretch and raced to a 66-59 lead after a Scott Thompson layup in the 4:59 mark.
The Tamaraws closed in at 66-63 on Russel Escoto’s free throws, but Perpetual Help scored four more in the dying seconds to stretch their winning streak to five.
“Tiyaga lang talaga ginawa namin,” Perpetual Help Head Coach Aric del Rosario on the team’s fifth straight victory. “Mapa-opensa, mapa-depensa, nagtiyaga lang kami.”
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza