Centro Escolar University began its 2019 PBA D-League Foundation Cup campaign with a rousing 30-point beatdown of Asia’s Lashes, 107-77, Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Senegalese big man Malick Diouf proved to be the difference-maker for the new-look Scorpions with his 31 points and 25 rebounds, to go with seven assists, five blocks, and four steals.
Rich Guinitaran supplied 16 points and seven rebounds. Meanwhile, Dave Bernabe and Kurt Sunga each had 12 points in the win where all but one of the 12-man CEU scored at least two points.
“The new guys are trying to fit in. I would say we have yet to fine-tune everything. Puro bata yung mga player ko. Hopefully, the games will help us get where we want,” said coach Derrick Pumaren.
The Scorpions were quick to assert control of the match. However, they only pulled away in the second quarter through a 15-2 run to turn a five-point 33-28 lead to a 48-30 advantage at the half.
CEU cruised the rest of the way, inflating their lead to as big as 36 points, 107-71, after a Joshua Abastillas bucket with only a minute left to play. They then emerged with the 30-point win.
CEU shot 42.7 percent from the field and dished out 27 assists. They also won the rebounding battle, 61 to 41.
Francis Camacho had 18 points and five rebounds to lead Asia’s Lashes, who fell to 1-1.
Gab Reyes was the only other double-digit scorer for Asia’s Lashes with 11 markers and nine rebounds.
The Scores:
CEU 107 — Diouf 31, Guinitaran 16, Bernabe 12, Sunga 12, Santos 10, De Ocampo 8, Tuadles 7, Tagal 4, Escalona 3, Murillo 2, Abastillas 2, Diaz 0.
Asia’s Lashes 77 — Camacho 18, Reyes 11, Gerero 9, Celada 6, Sarao 6, Alban 5, Delfinado 5, Martinez 4, Apreku 4, Laude 2, Deles 2, Batungbakal 0, Dumlao 0, Cojuangco 0.
Quarterscores: 21-14, 48-30, 69-55, 107-77.
