[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’ CEU stuns Flying V for D-League finals seat ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
Saturdsy, August 19, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=’18’ font_color=” color=”]
MANILA – Centro Escolar University Scorpions claimed the remaining finals seat in the 2017 PBA D-League Foundation Cup after a 72-67 win over Flying V Thunder in a do-or-die semis game at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Orlan Wamar led the way with conference-high 17 points, including four three-point conversions, for the Scorpions on Thursday night.
Art Aquino added double-double 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Congolese Rodrigue Ebondo contributed 11 points and 18 rebounds.
The Scorpions is aiming for its second PBA D-League title. It will face Cignal HD Hawkeyes in a best-of-three finale starting Tuesday next week.
The series victory is also a huge morale boost for the Scorpions heading into the championship round as they just became the second No. 4 seed team to pull off the upset and make it to the title round.
The Scorpions recovered from a poor start as it battled back from a 13-point deficit, 25-12, before surging ahead late in the game at 69-64 on a pair of free throws by Jan Manlangit.
But the Thunder refused to sink as it cut the deficit to just two at 69-67 on a three-pointer by Eric Salamat and even had a chance to knot the count.
Ebondo sealed the win from the free throw line.
“I’m so proud sa mga players ko. Binigay nila ‘yung best kaya umabot kami sa ganito,” said Scorpions head coach Yong Garcia. “I just told my players to stay focused and stick to our gameplan.”
Jeron Teng, who played his final game in the league before joining the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft, led the way with 19 points for the Thunder, which was unbeaten almost the entire conference before the back-to-back setback to the Scorpions in the semis.
BOX SCORE:
CEU 72 – Wamar 19, Aquino 13, Casiño 12, Ebondo 11, Manlangit 11, Jeruta 4, Arim 2, Uri 2, Cruz 2, Fuentes 0.
FLYING V 67 – Teng 19, Thiele 13, Torres 8, Banal 7, Paredes 6, Salamat 6, Austria 3, Tampus 3, Cañada 2, Dionisio 0.
Quarterscores: 12-18, 32-39, 51-54, 72-67/PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
