Centro Escolar University spoiled Willie Wilson and Gani Stevens’ debut for Builders Warehouse-University of Santo Tomas, taking an 86-69 win in the 2022 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig, Tuesday.
The Growling Tigers scored the first three points of the game but it was all Scorpions afterward, cruising to a 45-28 lead at the half.
The victory snapped CEU’s two-game slide to improve to .500 at 2-2, good for fifth.
“Pinakaimportante dito ay yung learning process namin talagang gusto ng mga batang mag step-up talaga,” said Scorpions head coach Chico Manabat. “‘Coach, ayaw naming maging kulelat.’ bonus na sa akin yun, hindi ko yun sinasabi pero sila ‘yung nagtratrabaho niyan.”
Franz Diaz tallied a game-high 23 points for CEU along with five rebounds and three assists.
Jerome Santos chipped in 16 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, while Lenard Santiago drained three triples to finish with 16 points, six rebounds, and four steals.
Nic Cabañero flirted with a triple-double for the 0-3 Growling Tigers, registering 16 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists.
After arriving just last Sunday from the States, American guard Willie Wilson tallied 11 points in 15:12 of play while 6-foot-7 Filipino-American big man Gani Stevens, plagued with three fouls at halftime, had four points and eight rebounds.
UST will try to enter the win column on Thursday, 10:30 am, against Adalem Construction-St.Clare at SMART Araneta Coliseum. CEU looks to make it back-to-back wins next Tuesday against Apex Fuel-San Sebastian.
The Scores:
CEU 86 – Diaz 23, Santos 16, Santiago 16, Ancheta 10, Bernabe 8, Tolentino 6, Balogun 4, Cabotaje 3, Ferrer 0, Borromeo 0, Reyes 0.
Builders Warehouse-UST 69 – Cabanero 16, Concepcion 12, Wilson 11, Manalang 5, Herrera 5, Stevens 4, Mantua 4, Pangilinan 4, Santos 3, Baclaan 3, Lazarte 2, Canoy 0, Gesalem 0, Crisostomo 0.
Quarterscores: 21-10, 45-28, 60-46, 84-69.
