Late surge propels Scorpions over Racal

MANILA, Philippines - Centro Escolar University leaned on a late fourth quarter charge as it held off Racal Motors, 88-77, to book the last quarterfinal seat in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig yesterday.

JK Casiño, Congolese big man Rod Ebondo and Orlan Wamar combined in a scorching 18-4 windup as the Scorpions pulled away from a tight 70-68 count in the last seven minutes to post the 11-point triumph and complete the playoff cast with a 6-4 mark.

In the other game, Jeron Teng turned in another triple double game as top seed Flying V blasted Batangas, 116-101, to complete its sweep of the elims on its very first try.

Teng fired 24 points, hauled down 11 rebounds and dished off 10 assists to emerge the first player with the most triple double performance in the league.

The former La Salle star also powered the Thunder to join the ranks of NLEX (2012 and 2014 Foundation Cups) and Cagayan Valley (2015 Aspirants’ Cup) as the only teams to sweep all their elims assignments in the six-year history of the tourney.

Flying V finished with a 10-0 slate while dropping Batangas to fifth at 6-4.

The Batangueños likewise conceded the fourth spot and the twice-to-beat incentive to CEU, which it will play in the quarters tomorrow.

CEU, Batangas and Marinerong Pilipino ended up with identical 6-4 cards but the Scorpions took the quarters incentive.

“I’m very thankful that the players executed well our game plan in offense and defense especially in the fourth,” said CEU coach Yong Garcia.

Ebondo posted double-double numbers of 22 points and 19 rebounds, Patrick Aquino and Wamar scored 12 markers apiece while Casiño contributed 11 for the Scorpions.

Rian Ayonayon came through with 12 points while Allan Mangahas added 10 for the also-ran Alibaba, who finished at 3-7 in a disappointing follow-up to their finals appearance last conference.

Racal Motors played sans head coach Jerry Codiñera, who handled Arellano U in another league, but the Alibaba still led, 44-41, at the turn.

They stretched it 48-52 early in the third before the Scorpions struck and wrested control.

Racal still kept the game close in the early going of the fourth behind Jamil Ortuoste but Casiño, Ebondo and Wamar took over for the Scorpions in the stretch.

The scores:

First Game:

CEU 88 – Ebondo 22, Aquino 12, Wamar 12, Casiño 11, Guinitaran 9, Jeruta 8, Uri 6, Cruz 4, Arim 2, Manlangit 2, Baconcon 0, Intic 0.

RACAL MOTORS 77 – Ayonayon 12, Mangahas 10, Apreku 9, Cabrera 9, Cortez 9, Ortuoste 8, Pontejos 6, Tallo 5, Capacio 4, Lozada 3, Faundo 2, Gomez 0, Grimaldo 0.

Quarterscores: 21-23, 41-44, 63-58, 88-77.

Second Game:

FLYING V 116 – Torres 26, Teng 24, Salamat 22, Thiele 13, Paredes 9, Tampus 7, Banal 5, Dionisio 5, Cañada 4, Austria 1, Koga 0.

BATANGAS 101 – Celiz 15, De Joya 14, Isit 13, Ablaza 11, Saitanan 10, Mendoza 8, Ragasa 7, Avenido 6, Anderson 5, Gabayni 4, Dela Peña 3, Bulawan 3, Bautista 2, Laude 0.

Quarterscores: 36-24, 57-46, 84-71, 116-101