MANILA, Philippines — Maodo Malick Diouf pulled down a record 30 rebounds and Centro Escolar University beat Valencia City, Bukidnon-San Sebastian, 71-65, to seize solo leadership in its bracket in the PBA D-League yesterday.
Diouf broke the mark previously set by Jay-R Taganas, who collared 29 boards in a 70-75 AMA loss to Cagayan Valley exactly four years ago, to help propel the Scorpions to their fourth straight win against erstwhile co-leader Golden Harvest in the Foundation Group.
“He (Diouf) asserted himself inside. We know San Sebastian will hustle and they have been outhustling other teams in getting those loose balls. Today, he didn’t make the ball bounce on the floor and he was controlling it,” said CEU coach Derrick Pumaren.
Soulemane Chabi Yo turned in a monster game of 32 points and 25 rebounds as University of Santo Tomas got past Go for Gold-College of Saint Benilde, 94-82, to seize the solo lead anew in its bracket in the Aspirants’ Group.
The Tigers warded off the Scratchers, who repeatedly cut their double-digit lead in the fourth, behind Chabi Yo’s 14-point showing in the frame.
UST thus stayed unbeaten in four assignments in the group while shoving last year’s Foundation Cup champion Go for Gold-CSB back to the losing column at joint sixth with Batangas-Emilio Aguinaldo College at 1-3.