By Jerome Lagunzad
Games Today (Ynares Sports Arena)
1 p.m. – Perpetual Help vs Mila’s Lechon
3 p.m. – Go for Gold-CSB vs JRU
5 p.m. – Zark’s Burgers vs Akari
Centro Escolar University fired an ominous warning to its future rivals by upstaging the fancied Marinerong Pilipino side, 104-93, yesterday for a solid debut in the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Congolese center Rod Ebondo threw his weight inside and finished with a season-high 31 points while veterans JJ Manlangit, Judel Fuentes and Orlan Wamar delivered the knockout blows that sent the Skippers down to their knees.
“Medyo nag-relax nu’ng lumamang na kami. Buti na lang, bumawi sila sa depensa nu’ng fourth (period),” said CEU Yong Garcia, quite pleased with how the Scorpions got their second wind after squandering a 19-point lead in the third canto.
Rian Ayonayon tallied 24 points while Renzo Subido and Billy Robles accounted for 17 points each as they took turns in helping the Skippers dig themselves out of a deep 43-62 hole early in the third.
But Marinerong Pilipino apparently ran out of steam as CEU showed poise under duress, with Wamar and Manlangit igniting a 14-2 counterattack bridging the final two periods to restore order.
The Skippers, considered by many as the top title favorite, suffered their second straight loss after opening their campaign with a 94-92 win over Zark’s Burgers Jawbreakers.
Earlier, Fil-Am guard Trevis Jackson waxed hot with a career-high of 30 points as Gamboa Coffee Mix-St. Clare turned back Batangas-Emilio Aguinaldo College, 104-81, to barge into the winners’ column.
The 6-foot Jackson played on a different level in the second half, notably in the third period where he poured in 12 points on an array of drives and jumpers that sparked the Coffee Lovers’ breakaway from the erratic Generals.
