Ni Jerome Lagunzad
CEU Scorpions, naalisan ng kamandag ng San Lorenzo.
NAKUMPLETO ng Colegio de San Lorenzo ang dominasyon sa liyamadong Centro Escolar University para makopo ang kampeonato sa Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) Season 2 kahapon sa Olivarez Coliseum sa Sucat, Parañaque City.
Hataw sina big man Soulemane Chabi Yo at pro-bound Jon Gabriel para tuldukan ang inaakalang imposible at ipagkaloob kay coach Boni Garcia ang traditional victory ride.
'Pikon daw?' UAAP fan na nag-dirty finger, agaw-eksena sa San Juan Arena!
Nadomina ng Griffins ang top seeded Scorpions sa dramatikong 71-65 panalo sa Game 2 ng kanilang best-of-three titular showdown.
Nakuha ng San Lorenzo ang Game 1, 86-78.
“This means a lot,” pahayag ni Garcia, patungkol sa mapait na karanasan sa nakalipas na season sa kamay ng karibal.
“Before we arrived here, I told my players to dream that they’re cutting the net, they’re celebrating with their teammates and our fans. Just dream of being the champions and we will all work hard for it. I think they were inspired by that,” aniya.
Nanguna si Jan Formento sa Scorpions sa naiskor na 23 puntos, tampok ang limang three-pointer, habang kumana ang 6-foot-6 na si Chabi Yo ng 12 puntos, 15 rebounds, apat na blocks at tatlong assists.
Nagbigay naman ng krusyal na basket si Charles Callano, kabilang ang game-clinching lay-up mula sa steal kay CEU guard Judel Fuentes para maitarak ang 69-63 bentahe may 23.8 segundo ang nalalabi.
“I just kept my focus on the game and I’m confident that we could finish them off as long as we gave our best,” pahayag ng pambato ng Leyte, kumana ng 19 puntos, sapat para hirangin na Finals MVP.
Nanguna sa Scorpions si Fuentes na may game-high 21 puntos, habang kumubra si JJ Manlangit ng 20 puntos at pitong rebounds.
Samantala, tinanghal na season MVP si Technological Institute of the Philippines star Jorey Napoles.
Nanguna ang 6-foot-3 na si Napoles sa Mythical na kinabibilangan din nina last year’s MVP Dominck Fajardo at Paul Dela Cruz ng Bulacan State University, Diliman College’s Jerico Mondala at Rommel Saliente ng Lyceum-Batangas.
Iskor:
CdSL (71) — Formento 23, Callano 19, Chabi Yo 12, Gabriel 6, Rojas 5, Sablan 4, Alvarado 2, Ancheta 0, Laman 0.
CEU (65) — Fuentes 21, Manlangit 20, Wamar 8, Arim 7, Caballero 4, Demigaya 2, Guinitaran 2, Umeanozie 1, Baconcon 0, Cruz 0.
Quarters: 20-13, 36-25, 55-47, 71-65.
