By Jerome Lagunzad
Defending champion Centro Escolar University dealt top challenger Colegio de San Lorenzo another stern reality check that it has a lot of catching up to do to foil its title-retention bid.
The Scorpions employed a sustained defensive pressure and scored an impressive 69-57 win over the Griffins to clinch the No. 1 seed in the Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) Season 2 at the Olivarez College gym in Sucat, Parañaque City.
Paul Galinato had a game-high 15 points while veteran guard Orlan Wamar and Judel Fuentes added at least 10 points each but it was CEU’s vaunted defensive stance that put do-it-all big man Soulemane Chabi Yo and his CdSL teammates out of their comfort zones all game long.
The wire-to-wire victory was the seventh straight and 13th overall in 14 matches for the Scorpions, who reaffirmed their readiness to complete a successful title defense.
The Griffins, who also lost to the Scorpions 82-76 in the first round, saw their seven-game win-run come to a shuddering halt as they dropped down to second spot with a 12-2 mark.
“We really focused on improving our team defense,” said CEU coach Yong Garcia, pleased no end with how his wards limited the usual high-scoring Griffins to just eight points in the first period and did enough plays to stay afloat in the final period.
The 6-foot-6 Chabi Yo failed to pounce on the absence of Scorpions counterpart Rod Ebondo as he groped for form, missing 11 of his 15 attempts to finish with just 10 points, a big letdown that his fellow Griffins struggled to fill up.
“We know that their plays starts and ends with Chabi Yo. So I reminded my big men to hold their ground and make sure he won’t get any baskets in the lane,” added Garcia, commending the defensive exploits shown by Nigerian Ebuka Umeanozie, Louis Baconcon, Mark Neil Cruz and Joseph Manlangit.
CEU wasted no little time in setting the tone defensively as it suffocated CdSL early on while scoring with ease behind a balanced attack led by Galinato, Fuentes and Manlangit.
First Game
CEU 69 — Galinato 15, Wamar 12, Fuentes 10, Arim 7, Cruz 6, Umeanozie 6, Manlangit 5, Caballero 4, Baconcon 3, Intic 1, Cabellero 0, Catacutan 0, Demigaya 0.
CdSL 57 — Chabi Yo 10, Sablan 10, Rojas 8, Formento 7, Gojar 8, Formento 7, Gojar 6, Alvarado 4, Callano 4, Baldevia 2, Borja 2, Laman 2, Vargas 2, Ancheta 0, Calizo 0.
Quarters: 26-8, 38-26, 53-43, 69-57.