Scorpions notch 4th straight win vs Dragons

MANILA, Philippines - Centro Escolar University streaked to its fourth straight win with a 75-59 drubbing of Diliman College in the first Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) yesterday at the Olivarez Sports Center in Parañaque.

The multi-titled Scorpions used their height advantage to terrorize the shaded lane as they raced to an early 19-11 lead which they padded to 40-25 at halftime break.

Owned by former Sen. Nikki Coseteng, Diliman School tried to mount a rally but could do nothing against a squad toughened by years of playing together starting with their stint in another league.

Even Congolese Rod Ebondo was deliberately used sparingly during the game as Orlan Wamar and Samboy de Leon took charge this time.

The 6-foot-6 Ebondo scored only six points and grabbed 13 boards – a far cry from his 20-point and 20-rebound show in the team’s masterful 81-65 victory over Technological Institute of the Philippines.

Wamar finished with 13 points while De Leon chipped in 10 points as CEU moved within two wins from sweeping the first round elims of the tournament organized by UCBL and sponsored by Euro-med and Lamoiyan Corp.

In another show of force, eight Scorpions scored in the first two quarters compared to only four for the Diliman Blue Dragons. They shot a high 53.33 on 16 of 30 shooting in the first half to Diliman’s 31.43 percent.

CEU coach Yong Garcia, however, was not pleased with how his boys closed out the game.

“That’s really our problem. We are a slow starter. But it’s good we managed to pull through in the final half. However, we again allowed our opponent to threaten us in the final quarter,” said Garcia.

Romyl Journacion paced the Blue Dragons with a game-high 20 points.