CEU blasts Olivarez, nears UCBL crown

MANILA, Philippines - Rod Ebondo took charge in the third quarter as Centro Escolar University overcame a so-so start and came away with an emphatic 66-41 victory over Olivarez College to move a win from claiming the inaugural Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) crown at the Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat, Parañaque yesterday.

The Scorpions outscored the hosts, 21-9, in the third period, turning a shaky 28-22 halftime lead into a comfortable 18-point bulge heading to the last 10 minutes of play. The Sea Lions never recovered from that big CEU blitz, enabling the fancied team to run away with the victory in the opener of their best-of-three title series.

Not even Olivarez’s vaunted pressure defense was enough to slow CEU from inching closer to becoming the league’s first champion.

The 6-5 Ebondo starred in CEU’s third quarter rampage, scoring the bulk of his 14-point output and 17-rebound effort.

Despite their hustle and energy, plus the crowd support, the Sea Lions grabbed only 40 boards, 13 less than their rivals.

The Sea Lions actually held their ground in the first two quarters, hitting their perimeter shots while holding their own in defense. They fell by just four after the first 10 minutes and six at the turn.

But Ebondo and company came out of the break in attack mode, pouring in the points in succession while foiling the Sea Lions on the other end.