A defensive collapse on the part of Malick Diouf in crunch time proved too costly for the Centro Escolar University Scorpions as they bowed to the Go for Gold-St. Benilde Scratchers, 81-84, in their 2019 PBA D-League quarterfinal meeting on Tuesday.
The Senegalese student-athlete failed to cover Gab Banal, leaving the latter wide open from the top of the arc. It then doomed the Scorpions, as the 2018 Foundation Cup champion sank the go-ahead trey with 17.5 seconds left.
That loss blew the Mendiola-based squad’s twice-to-beat advantage.
CEU head coach Derrick Pumaren rued his young center’s lapse as well. Still, he had nothing to complain about Diouf; in fact, he even tipped his hat to the 20-year-old for playing as hard as he could versus the Scratchers.
The veteran tactician revealed that Diouf is currently observing Ramadan, meaning he has been fasting for about 11 to 16 hours.
“Malick made a mistake defensively when he left Banal wide open. But I cannot blame him, maybe he’s tired already – he’s a Muslim so he’s fasting, Ramadan eh,” said the decorated head coach.
“But I cannot blame him. You have to give it to the guy.
“He’s still playing hard in spite that,” added Pumaren, as Diouf finished with 14 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, four steals, and three blocks.
If it hadn’t been for that Banal three, CEU could have snatched the win and the outright semis trip. Before sinking in the end, the Scorpions rallied back from a 20-point deficit and tied the game at 81-all with 2:09 left.
Now that the series is heading into a do-or-die on Thursday, May 30, at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City, Pumaren only reminded his wards to play a full 40-minute – not just 20 or like what they did Tuesday.
“Well, we just have to come out and be ready to play for forty minutes. We can’t just play for twenty minutes. I’ve been preaching to them that we have to play our game, we cannot play your game — I mean individually,” said Pumaren.
“We just have to play forty minutes next game, and hopefully we’ll be lucky and beat Go for Gold.”
