Jerome Santos made sure that new Scorpions head coach Chico Manabat had a winning debut, towing Centro Escolar University to a dominant 101-82 win over AMA Online Education in the 2022 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup, Thursday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Santos, 23, got 36 points built on four treys to go along with eight rebounds, six assists, and two steals.
“May players na di pa kami nagamit kasi injured pa sila, but sinwerte lang kami sa bandang huli,” said Manabat about the win.
Santos triggered CEU’s 14-2 pull away that flipped the game from a close 55-53 affair to a 69-55 lead late in the third quarter, before a 30-point fourth quarter gave his side its biggest lead at 24, 94-70.
Supporting Santos was Anjord Cabotaje with 11 points while Dave Bernabe grabbed 14 rebounds to go with his nine markers.
Larry Arpia led AMA with 24 points, three rebounds, and three steals. Nikon Alina tallied a double-double as well with 12 points and 16 rebounds.
Former first overall pick Reed Baclig finished with six points and eight rebounds but committed a whopping eight turnovers as well.
The Scores:
CEU 101 – Santos 36, Cabotaje 11, Diaz 9, Bernabe 9, Ferrer 9, Tolentino 8, Ancheta 7, Santiago 6, Reyes 2, Borromeo 2, Enrile 2, Malicana 0, Atienza 0, Samaniego 0.
AMA 82 – Arpia 24, Palana 12, Alina 12, Cruz 10, Baclig 6, Villamor 6, Soriano 4, Romero 3, Pangilinan 2, Cruz 2, Ceniza 1, Fuentes 0, Temporasa 0, Reyes 0.
Quarterscores: 22-14, 48-41, 71-61, 101-82.
