Looking at CEU's win over Flying V

MANILA, Philippines – The Flying V Thunder were rudely halted on their march to a finals berth of the PBA D-League Foundation Cup semifinals with the Centro Escolar University Scorpions winning, 93-72, at the Ynares Center in Pasig Wednesday.

Rodrigue Ebondo and Patrick Aquino presided over the searing assault that CEU sustained throughout the game. Both scored 18 points with the former adding 22 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks.

CEU shot a blistering 58 percent from the field in the first half that saw them race to a 58-35 lead. The lead even went as high as 24 after Ebondo hit two free throws at the 2:40 mark of the third period, 74-50.

The Thunder, who saw their 11-match winning streak snapped, could only bring the lead down to 16 after Eric Salamat drilled three consecutive triples. But CEU weather Flying V’s first, second, and third quarter barrages with Thomas Torres, Gab Banal and Salamat alternating on scoring binges.

Game Three is on Thursday.

How can CEU march into the Finals?

Maintain the energy they displayed in Game Two. Ebondo, who is always energetic, repeatedly attacked Flying V’s interior getting Papot Paredes, Aris Dionisio and Hans Thiele in foul trouble.

That energy translated into a 16-12 advantage in points from turnovers, 42-22 advantage in points in the paint, and a 13-6 advantage in second chance points.

It will be hard for CEU to replicate their hot shooting in Game 3 (45% from three-point range). If they do, good for them. If not, they have to get to the free throw line.

They were able to get Jeron Teng in foul trouble and Flying V’s Main Man eventually fouled out. If they can make Teng work hard on defense and tire him out (or even get him back in foul trouble), they will cause all sorts of rotation problems.

How can Flying V find their way back?

In my opinion, the streak was like an albatross. It’s good to keep it going but that’s also a lot of pressure. Maybe now having that streak broken, they can be a bit more relaxed.

Has the mantle of invincibility been broken? Sure. But that doesn’t mean they will wilt. That is the plus-side of a series as opposed to a one-match playoff where there is no tomorrow. Either Flying V chalks this up to a bad game or they go back on a streak.

I don’t think the Thunder were complacent. Simply put, CEU wanted it more.

I thought that they played less as a team. Sure they were even at 18 assists each with CEU but they scoring binges were all giving the ball to the hot hand – Torres early, then Teng, Banal, and followed by Salamat. They should go back to what got them where they are at – team ball plus drive and dish. Too many solo scoring sorties. Sometimes that works. Last Tuesday, it didn’t

If they have more players scoring at the same time that would spread CEU’s defense.

Second, rebound and box out. Yes, it is easier said than done but they have to do it. Ebondo was a lot quicker to the ball.

Plus, they need to attack CEU even if they have a rim protector. In Game One, Flying V attempted 27 times from the outside. For Game Two, they hiked that up to 35. It seemed as if at times, they were trying to come back rather quickly rather than methodically.

Talking to our colleagues in the media, they all thought that it was the Cignal-Marinerong Pilipino series that would go to the limit. But instead, it’s CEU versus Flying V.

Game Three is going to be a huge battle.