Centro Escolar University went full throttle in the final quarter and defeated reigning champion Olivarez College for the third time, 87–79, moving closer to reclaiming the crown in the PGFlex-UCAL Season 8 Basketball Tournament on Monday, April 20, at Paco Arena in Manila.
Unlike CEU’s previous two wins in the two-round eliminations, it was Kem Sabsalon’s turn to shine, as he scored seven of his 17 points in the final four minutes of the tense showdown to help the Scorpions draw first blood in their best-of-three title series.
Already a three-time champion, CEU can clinch another crown—and its third against Olivarez—if it wins Game 2 on Thursday at the same venue.
Top individual awardees, including the MVP and Best Foreign Player, will also be honored after the battle for third place between Philippine Christian University–Dasmariñas and Lyceum of the Philippines–Batangas at 1 p.m.
The Sea Lions, last year’s champions over PCU-Dasmariñas, appeared headed for victory after controlling the game from early in the third quarter until the 4:17 mark of the fourth, when Hans Maycong converted two free throws to give them a 76–73 lead.
Sabsalon then rose to the occasion, drilling a triple to tie the game, but the Sea Lions responded to knot the count again at 79-all.
That proved to be their last stand as the Butuan City native completed a three-point play to give CEU an 82–79 lead with 66 seconds remaining.
After two missed Olivarez attempts, Precious Momowei and Geric Canete sealed the win for CEU by splitting their free throws down the stretch.
Momowei finished with 12 points and 17 rebounds, while Mark Jade Sarza and Canete added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Sabsalon’s clutch performance negated the 23 and 21-point efforts of Maycong and Bryan Manuel for Olivarez College. Leading MVP candidate Rodel Renon added 15 points but was held scoreless in the critical stretch.
The event is backed by Smart Sports, Akari, Advance Solutions Inc., Spalding, Quintana Sports, Crane Faucet, Hapee Toothpaste, Café France, Vital, TopFlite Academy, Maruyama, Gerry’s Grill, Mighty Bond, and Undftd Sportswear.
