University of Batangas crushed undermanned Centro Escolar University, 112-86, and stayed unscathed in the PG Flex Linoleum-Universities and Colleges Basketball League yesterday at the Olivarez College gym in Parañaque City.
The UB Brahmans pulled away from a slim 25-22 opening-quarter lead behind their “fast and furious” game to stretch the winning run to four games and hand the Scorpions their first setback in three games.
JJ Caspe and Don Tabol spearheaded UB’s assault with 21 and 20 points while Harold De Guzman and Emmanuel Catacutan added 16 points each.
The Scorpions played with only six players for the second straight time as the CEU was playing its semis match in the PBA D-League at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City.
John Cayno Carandang scored 24 points, while Gilles Oloume and Josua Abastillas combined for 40 points as the trio saw action in over 33 minutes as the Scorpions absorbed their first loss in three games.
In the first game, Lyceum of the Philippines-Batangas banked on the hot-shooting of Aliane Lapasaran to clobber Technological Institute of the Philippines, 79-69, for a 2-1 card – the same record of the Scorpions.
The 5-foot-10 Lapasaran exploded for 27 points on a respectable 12-of-22 field goal shooting for the Pirates, who nailed their second win in three games.
Lapasaran did almost everything on the court as he tallied 9 assists, seven steals and six rebounds in almost a no-relief job.
Protecting a tight 46-42 lead, Lapasaran joined hands with John Weiland Villanueva and Jerold Sebastian to take post a double-digit lead, 53-42, an advantage they protected till the final buzzer.
Arsene Mulunda did score only three points but hauled down 25 rebounds apart from posting two blocks and the same number of steals.
Villanueva and Sebastian chipped in nine points each.
Jhon Arthur Calisay had 30 points and 11 rebounds but his efforts went down the drain as the Engineers suffered their fourth straight loss. (Kristel Satumbaga)