Centro Escolar University snapped a two-game losing run with an 85-68 win over Technological Institute of the Philippines yesterday in the PG Flex Linoleum-Universities and Colleges Basketball League at the Olivarez College gym in Parañaque City.
With the return of its starters, CEU started hot, racing to a 22-10 advantage and never looked for its third in five games in the eight-team tournament.
In their previous three games, the Scorpions played with only six players due to the team’s other commitment.
Franz Diaz and Malick Diouf led CEU’s early onslaught and finished with 18 and 17 points, respectively.
Meanwhile, Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas improved to 3-2 by outlasting Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas, 63-59.
The Dolphins absorbed their fourth defeat in five starts.
The 6-foot-7 Diouf hauled down 17 boards to complete a double-double while John Carandang and Christian Malicana chipped in 11 and 10 points for the Scorpions.
With a tight six-man rotation, CEU dropped its games against University of Batangas and Diliman College.
Only five players scored for TIP as it skidded to a fifth loss in six games with Papa Ndiaye and Ximone Sandagon posting 18 and 17 points, respectively.
The Scorpions exploded behind the arc by nailing eight triples and posted a better shooting percentage of 31-of-64 for 48 percent compared to the Engineers’ 27-of-68 for 39-percent.
