KABIGUAN ang naging pagtatapos ng tinaguriang “Cinderella run” ng koponan ng Centro Escolar University sa 2019 PBA D-League nitong Martes.

Yumukod ang Scorpions, 66-98, sa Cignal-Ateneo sa Game Four ng best-of-5 title series.

“We feel bad, but we really lost to a better team,” pahayag ni CEU coach Derrick Pumaren.

Goodbye PBA? John Amores, tinanggalan na ng professional license!

“Ateneo is just a very strong team. They showed their dominance in today’s game. I tried to push them, but hanggang doon na lang,” aniya.

Ngunit, sa kabila ng natamong malaking pagkatalo, walang nagyuko ng ulo sa Scorpions dahil ayon kay Pumaren wala silang dapat na ikahiya dahil ang umabot sa finals ay isa ng napakalaking achievement para sa koponan.

Sa kalagitnaan ng kanilang quarterfinal series kontra Go For Gold-St. Benilde, ang Scorpions nalagasan ang CEU at naglaro na may walong players sanhi ng naging alegasyon sa pagkakasangkot ng ibang players sa game-fixing.

Sa kabila nito, umabot sila ng semifinals kahit limitado ang kanilang players na pinangunahan ni Malick Diouf na nagsilbing matibay na pundasyon ng kanilang team.

Tinalo rin nila ang nakatapat na St. Clare College-Virtual Reality sa semifinals kung kaya umusad sila sa championship.

“I told the boys today that for me, in my books, you’re already a champion. You’ve done something incredible. You have nothing to be ashamed of, and you have to keep your heads high,” wika pa ni Pumaren.

“My message to my team is I’d like to congratulate them for getting here despite of all the issues, the distractions. We still made it all the way here to the Finals – we were even able to steal one game from Ateneo.”

Kahit si Cignal-Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin ay di naitago ang paghanga sa nakalaban.

“I’m proud to have competed against them, you know, because they really brought everything and the adversity that they’ve been under,” ani Baldwin.

“You know, sometimes that’s what sports is about – how we confront adversity – and they’ve had more than their fair share. And I think what we have seen of them is exemplary, both individually from the players and for the coaching staff in terms of getting them ready to play,” dagdag nito.

“They taught us a lesson, which is great. You know, we need those lessons. So congratulations to Derrick. I know second place never feels good. You know, it just if you don’t win the last game of the season, it doesn’t feel good, but I’m just very impressed with what they accomplished.”