Centro Escolar University showcased poise and resilience down the stretch, staging a thrilling 84-81 comeback over defending champion Olivarez College to complete an 8-0 sweep in the first phase of the PGFlex-UCAL Season 8 Basketball Tournament on Thursday at Paco Arena.
The game belonged to 6-foot-9 Precious Momowei, whose dominant presence inside proved decisive.
Trailing for most of the matchup, CEU unleashed a furious 8-1 run capped by Momowei, who scored all but one point in the surge, keeping the Scorpions’ unbeaten streak alive heading into the next stage.
Momowei recorded his seventh double-double of the season, finishing with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and two assists—a statement performance reflecting his determination to chase a championship after a tough, winless stint with University of the East in last season’s UAAP.
Guard Geric Cañete complemented Momowei’s dominance with 17 points, including three triples, five rebounds, and two steals, while Christ Singson added 10 points to help CEU pull away in the closing minutes.
With an 8-0 slate, CEU now needs just two wins in their three remaining elimination games to secure a semifinal spot outright.
In other action, Immaculada Concepcion College pulled off a stunning 77-75 upset of two-time champion Diliman College despite a 37-point showing from Solomon Kone.
Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas improved to 4-3 after defeating University of Batangas, 87-79, while Manila Central University claimed its second win in seven games by overpowering Philippine Women’s University, 86-60.
The top four teams after this phase will advance to Group A, where they play another round with the top two securing outright semifinal berths.
Teams ranked fifth to ninth will battle in a separate round, with the top two joining Group A’s losers in a knockout quarterfinal.
