by Jonas Terrado
Game Today (The Arena, San Juan)
4 p.m. – CEU vs Cignal-Ateneo
Centro Escolar University tries to do the unthinkable and draw first blood against fancied Cignal-Ateneo at the start of the PBA D-League Finals today at The Arena in San Juan City.
The Scorpions, who will once again play with eight uniformed players, hope to catch the Blue Eagles off guard in the proverbial David against Goliath title showdown which tips off at 4 p.m.
Coach Derrick Pumaren and the Scorpions continued their remarkable run despite game-fixing allegations that reduced them to eight in their semis showdown with the St. Clare-Virtual Reality.
While he described CEU’s entry to the finals as if they had already won a championship, Pumaren also urged his players to chase the ultimate goal despite the odds stacked against them.
“We know we’re gonna be the underdog against Ateneo,” Pumaren said. “We’re facing the No. 1 college team in the land. But outside of the UAAP and the NCAA, we believe that we’ve also one of the best basketball programs in the land.”
Senegalese center Maodu Malick Diouf and Rich Guinitaran lead CEU’s quest against a talent-laden Ateneo side fresh from a week-long rest following its semifinal sweep of City of Valencia-San Sebastian.
Diouf is averaging 16.1 points, 20.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.8 steals and 3.3 blocks while Guinitaran has posted 13.9 points, taking advantage of the heavy minutes logged since the controversy.
Thirdy Ravena, Ange Kouame and Matt Nieto will be the main weapons for the Blue Eagles of coach Tab Baldwin.
Kouame is likely to serve as Diouf’s biggest problem of the tournament as he’ll take his 16.0-point, 15.9-rebound and 3.2-block average into the title series.
Ravena (14.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists in eight games) could possibly amped up his game with the chance at giving Ateneo a championship before setting its sights on their bid for a three-peat in the UAAP.
