Rod Ebondo was the hero the Centro Escolar University Scorpions once again needed as his game-winner with 1.1 seconds remaining salvaged its 77-75 victory against the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, Monday afternoon at the Pasig Sports Center.
The Congolese student-athlete was stellar all game long, collecting a game-high 33 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks to save the Scorpions from the threat of the upset-hungry Heavy Bombers.
“We’re just lucky na pumasok yung tira ni Rodrigue,” said coach Yong Garcia.
Aside from his game-winner, Ebondo also saved CEU on the defensive end as he blocked Jeckster Apinan in the last 15 seconds which kept the score knotted at 75 in the clutch.
Joseph Manlangit contributed 15 markers, while Art Aquino got eight points, including the game-tying basket in the paint with 20.6 ticks remaining.
The Scorpios captured their second straight win to rise to a 5-1 card, while JRU could not end its struggles, falling to its sixth straight defeat to go down to 1-6.
Kris Porter shot 5-of-9 from beyond the arc to lead the Heavy Bombers with 21 points.
Paolo Pontejos had 14 markers, five rebounds, and three assists, while Ervin Grospe got 10 points for JRU, which could not score the shocker despite the 45 points it garnered from the bench.
The Scores:
CEU 77 — Ebondo 33, Manlangit 15, Aquino 8, Chan 7, Veron 7, Caballero 5, Wamar 2, Arim 0, Cruz 0, Guinitaran 0, Fuentes 0.
JRU 75 — Porter 21, Pontejos 14, Grospe 10, Apinan 8, De Guzman 7, Dela Virgen 7, Esguerra 4, Mendoza 4, Sawat 0, Yu 0.
Quarterscores: 16-17, 38-39, 58-64, 77-75.
