By Jerome Lagunzad
Games on Thursday
(Ynares Sports Arena)
12 p.m.– CEU vs Gamboa
Coffee-St. Clare
2 p.m. – Akari-Adamson vs Wang’s-Letran
Rich Guinitaran emerged as the unlikely source of production yesterday as Centro Escolar University defeated Perpetual Help, 90-85, to clinch the first playoff spot in the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao, Quezon City.
Guinitaran sizzled all-game long with 27 points while Congolese center Rod Ebondo delivered his usual numbers of 22 points and 12 rebounds as the Scorpions rolled to their fourth straight win and seventh overall in eight matches to stay ahead of the pack.
“All the credit goes to my players. Talagang kahit ang dami naming lapses, nag-focus sila. They are really determined to win,” said CEU coach Yong Garcia, who also got a tremendous boost from his shocktroopers with 53 points, 16 of them coming from Joseph Manlangit.
Nigerian center Prince Eze held his own against Ebondo with 23 points and 17 rebounds while guard Edgar Charcos contributed 22 points but they still could not prevent Perpetual Help from absorbing its fifth loss in seven matches.
In the other match, Gamboa Coffee Mix pounced on the big blunder committed by Zark’s Burgers guard JC Marcelino in the closing seconds as the Coffee Lovers outlasted the Jawbreakers, 107-106, in overtime.
After Gamboa Coffee Mix big man Aris Dionisio missed a potential game-winning triple, Marcelino secured the rebound and apparently sued for time even if they don’t have any more timeouts left, causing Zark’s Burgers a technical foul.
