Defending champion Centro Escolar University asserted its dominance over the neophyte Philippine Women’s University, securing a 74-45 victory to claim an early lead in the Universities and Colleges Athletic League-PG Flex Linoleum Season 6 at the Paco Arena in Manila on Thursday.
The Scorpions took command of the game with a scintillating second-quarter performance, establishing a double-digit advantage that proved insurmountable for the Patriots.
Franz Diaz once again spearheaded the assault for CEU with 14 points and 10 rebounds. And he contributed significantly to the Scorpions’ 23-8 outscoring of PWU in the pivotal second quarter.
Daniel Marcelo also made a notable impact with 14 points, while first-game hero Dylan Darbin added 10.
Although the Patriots attempted a comeback, they lacked the energy to mount a sufficient rally. Instead, they fell short against the Scorpions, who improved their record to a pristine 2-0.
PWU, playing its second consecutive game, was coming off a challenging 95-86 overtime loss to Guang Ming College in its UCAL debut last Monday.
Kurt Lactaotao emerged as the biggest challenge for the Patriots, finishing with 18 points. That included four crucial consecutive points that sparked a decisive 9-0 run in the extension period, securing the win for the Flying Dragons.
Philippine Christian University – Dasmarinas also claimed an early lead alongside CEU, improving to a 2-0 record after a convincing 79-59 victory over Lyceum of the Philippines University – Batangas.
Skipper Joshua Dino stood out for the Dolphins with 21 points, six assists, and five rebounds. His performance propelled PCU-D to a strong start in the first half. maintaining control to keep the Pirates winless through two games.
Four other players contributed double-digit scores, with Toscannie Tita and Alvin Reyes adding 11 points each.
