Scorpions sting: CEU ends Green Archers’ winning streak in FilOil tourney

The DLSU Green Archers failed to remain at the top spot of the Group B standings yesterday after faltering against NAASCU Champions CEU Scorpions, 93-78, in their FilOil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup match at the Arena in San Juan.

Despite a close game throughout the first three quarters, Scorpions gunner Carlo Casino caught fire in the final round, scoring his team’s first 14 outings with 12 points coming from the three-point territory. His hot shooting raised their lead to as high as 21 points midway through the fourth, putting it too far ahead for a possible comeback by La Salle.

Aaron Jeruta led the Escolarians with 19 points in the game, while Casino finished with 17 markers on five hits from beyond the arc. Rodrigue Ebondo had a double-double of 15 points and 17 boards, while point guard Mon Abundo finished with 10 dimes in helping the Mendiola-based squad stage a huge upset.

Jason Perkins put up a fight for the Taft-based squad with 19 markers on four three-point makes. Prince Rivero added 12 points and eight rebounds in the loss, which snapped a five-game winning streak for La Salle.

Calm before the storm

DLSU came out of the first quarter running. Archer big Perkins kick-started a blistering 10-0 run to grab an early lead with three straight shots from downtown. However, the Scorpions would come alive after a timeout by closing on the double-digit lead behind Jeruta’s eight steady points to end the quarter trailing, 23-16.

Come the second quarter, CEU tightened its defense by limiting shot opportunities for DLSU. The defensive adjustment only allowed the field goals of the Taft-based squad from within five feet of the basket. The strategy worked for the Scorpions as they coupled their defense with inside and outside scoring, five players contributing at least a bucket in contrast to La Salle’s three. Escolarian JM Vargas dropped two treys in the quarter while teammate Rodrigue Ebondo put up six points of his own, which helped CEU cut the lead, 37-36, to end the first half.

During the early moments of the third quarter, two unsportsmanlike fouls were called against CEU. Two technical fouls were already called during the first half but the penalties only fuelled the Scorpions’ run as they blistered through the third quarter and outscored the Archers, 29-20, to hold an eight-point lead entering the final quarter and set the stage for Casino’s torching of the Archers.

The boys from Taft are looking to bounce back in their next game against UAAP rival, the UST Growling Tigers, on June 6 at the Arena in San Juan. The Tigers sport an inferior 3-3 win-loss record and will try to nab a crucial victory against the Green Archers to keep their pre-season campaign alive.

The scores:

CEU – Jeruta 19, Casino 17, Ebondo 15, De Leon 13, Batino 8, Abundo 7, Vargas 6, Celso 4, Anunciacion 1, Pagkatipunan 2.

DLSU – Perkins 19, Rivero 12, Tratter 11, Torres 8, Teng 8, Gob 6, Caracut 5, Go 4, Van Opstal 3, Navarro 2.

Quarterscores:
23-16, 37-36, 65-57, 93-78.