The Gamboa-St. Clare University Coffee Lovers inched closer to their dream of making it to the post-season, stunning the Centro Escolar University Scorpions with a 100-83 blowout, Thursday afternoon at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Chris Bitoon anchored the all-out assault for the Coffee Lovers, dropping 19 points, five assists, and four rebounds off the bench for their second straight win, which improves their standing to 5-3.
Fil-Am guard Trevis Jackson added 18 markers and three dimes, Aris Dionisio registered 15 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks. Mohammed Pare of Mali was solid down low with his 14 markers, 17 boards, and three steals.
“Yung depensa namin ang talagang nagdikta ng laro,” remarked coach Jinino Manansala. “Sabi ko sa mga bata, stick to our gameplan at nag-respond naman sila.”
Gamboa-St. Clare recovered from an early 7-0 deficit, and staged a decisive 27-8 run to end the first quarter and hold a 27-15 advantage, keeping that distance and even taking a 29-point edge, 93-64 with 3:52 left in the game.
It also helped the Coffee Lovers that CEU coach Yong Garcia took precaution and sat out Congolese student-athlete Rod Ebondo for the next three quarters, as he nursed a back injury.
Opportunity, however, was there for the taking for Gamboa-St. Clare and Manansala is getting closer and closer on his quest to make it to the playoffs.
“May three games pa kami at habol namin yung number three o four,” he said.
Art Aquino carried the Scorpions with 16 points and six rebounds, as they saw their four-game win streak snapped.
CEU remain on top of the standings at 7-2 despite the loss.
The Scores:
Gamboa-St. Clare 100 — Bitoon 19, Jackson 18, Rebugio 16, Dionisio 15, Pare 14, Hallare 11, Alcober 3, Fontanilla 2, Rubio 2, Decano 0, Penaredondo 0.
CEU 83 — Aquino 16, Caballero 12, Fuentes 10, Guinitaran 8, Veron 8, Uri 7, Ebondo 6, Arim 4, Opiso 4, Wamar 4, Cruz 2, Manlangit 2, Saber 0.
Quarterscores: 27-15, 51-32, 78-52, 100-83.
