After a disappointing campaign last season, Centro Escolar University quickly recalibrated and made an emphatic return to the top of collegiate basketball.
Powered by the inspired performances of Mark Jade Sarza and Christ Jay Singson, the CEU Scorpions reaffirmed their dominance over Olivarez College to rule the PGFlex-UCAL Season 8 Basketball Tournament via a two-game sweep of the finals on Thursday, April 23, at the Paco Arena.
The Joe Silva-mentored Scorpions capped their stellar run with an 85-81 Game 2 victory—marking their fourth win over the dethroned champions this season and solidifying their status as one of the league’s premier forces.
With Sarza, Singson, and Precious Momowei leading the charge, CEU erupted to a 13-0 start and extended the cushion to 26-12 at the end of the first quarter, a lead that ultimately proved too much for the Sea Lions to overcome.
Olivarez refused to go down quietly, as Hakim Njiasse, Christian Vergara, and John Escalante spearheaded multiple rallies. The Sea Lions even closed the gap to within 81-83 with 14 seconds remaining after twice trimming a 16-point deficit in the payoff period.
Singson, however, steadied CEU with two clutch free throws before Kurt Miranda sealed the win with two more charities off a costly Vergara turnover.
Sarza finished with 25 points, nine rebounds, and two assists, a performance that earned him Finals MVP honors, while Singson added 20 points and four rebounds.
Olivarez star Rodel Renon was named Season MVP, but on his coronation night, he struggled mightily, finishing with just six points on 2-of-11 shooting.
The championship marked CEU’s fourth title in the league and third at the expense of Olivarez, further strengthening the Mendiola-based program’s growing dynasty.
The Scorpions ended the season with a dominant 13-1 record, with their lone defeat coming at the hands of Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas in the elimination round.
They later avenged that loss in the semifinals with an 82-75 victory, behind Sarza’s 24 points and 11 rebounds.
Meanwhile, the Pirates of Batangas settled for third place after a commanding 110-86 win over last year’s runner-up Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas in the tournament backed by Smart Sports, Akari, Advance Solutions Inc., Spalding, Quintana Sports, Crane Faucet, Hapee Toothpaste, CafeFrance, Vital, TopFlite Academy, Maruyama, Gerry’s Grill, Mighty Bond, and Undftd Sportswear.
Renon also headlined the Elite Five selection alongside Sarza, Leonard Marana of Diliman College, James Torrato of University of Batangas, and Alvin Reyes of PCU-D. Diliman’s Solomon Kone was named Best Foreign Player, edging out Momowei and Njiasse.
The Defensive Elite Five featured PCU-D’s JayR Pronda and John Catayong, UB’s John Atienza, CEU’s Kem Sabsalon, and ICC’s Marc Paul Lopez.
