The Centro Escolar University (CEU) Scorpions used their mastery of the three-point shot to drub the winless Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT) Cardinals, 90-76, to keep their record perfect in the 2015 FilOil-Flying V Hanes Premier Cup Saturday evening at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
CEU waxed hot right in the opening frame, quickly opening up an 11-2 run with 5:29 on the clock. Their lead ballooned to sixteen, 24-8, with less than three minutes left. Mapua stopped the bleeding and closed within twelve, 16-28, but CEU ended the quarter 31-16 after a triple from Rodel De Leon. The Scorpions converted five treys in the first quarter alone.
Mapua, through their pressuring defense, erased the huge deficit come the second quarter, closing within six, 37-31, after a triple from Stephen Que with 5:01 left. But CEU regained their form, as they stormed back to stretch the lead back to double digits, 47-37, with 1:23 left before the end of the first half. The Mendiola-based squad scored five more points to approach the halftime break ahead by thirteen, 52-39.
The Cardinals continued their strong offense in the third quarter, taking it inside the paint. MIT inched within six, 57-51, after a Josan Nimes layup with 3:38 left. And approaching the two-minute mark, Mapua’s deficit went down to four, 59-55, after Andretti Stevens sank both of his charities. CEU, however, scored four straight points off free throws, 63-55, with 1:31 remaining. A layup by Aliwell Oraeme closed out the quarter with a layup to narrow the gap, 63-57.
From a slim 69-64 lead in the 7:45 mark of the final canto, CEU pulled away to coast to an 80-65 lead with less than five minutes remaining. Mapua fought back, closing within nine, 80-71, with less than four minutes left. However, that was the last run they could pull off, as CEU scored ten more points prior to the buzzer to register their third straight win.
“It went close during the third quarter, pero buti na lang naka-recover ang mga bata,” said CEU Head Coach Edgar Macaraya, regarding the team’s win.
De Leon paced the Scorpions with 24 points, with 21 coming from the first half, sinking six treys. Alfred Batino posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Rodrigue Ebondo and Aaron Jeruta had 13 and 10, respectively. Nimes led Mapua with 18, while Oraeme had 15 and 21 in a losing effort.
The victory propelled CEU to an unscathed 3-0 win-loss slate, while Mapua dropped to 0-4. The former will face University of the East Red Warriors on Wednesday, May 13, at 3:15 PM, while the latter will have a long rest as their next game will be on May 22 against Southwestern University Cobras at 1:30 PM.
The Scores:
CEU 90 – De Leon 24, Batino 17, Ebondo 13, Jeruta 10, Vargas 9, Abundo 8, Celso 4, Casino 3, Opiso 2.
MIT 76 – Nimes 18, Oraeme 15, Que 13, Dela Rosa 10, Stevens 9, Isit 6, Serrano 3, Brana 2.
