CEU fends off Batangas, advances to D-League semis
MANILA, Philippines – Centro Escolar University (CEU) made the crucial defensive stops in the end game to weather a last-ditch rally by Team Batangas and hack out a 81-74 victory in their quarterfinal game on Thursday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
With the victory, the Scorpions advanced to the semifinals of the 2017 PBA D-League Foundation Cup, where they arranged a best-of-three series with unbeaten top-seed Flying V Thunder.
"Sobrang proud ako sa kanila kasi naka-focus sila," said CEU coach Yong Garcia after the game. "Kahit may tendency kami mag-relax, at least nakabawi."
The Scorpions were armed with a twice-to-beat advantage after finishing fourth in the elimination round, and appeared to be cruising to victory after surging to a 14-point lead, 67-53, with 8:49 to go. They still had an 11-point lead, 74-63, off a Rod Ebondo lay-up with 4:25 left to play.
But behind the efforts of Cedrick Ablaza and Rob Celiz, the Batangueños steadily chipped at the deficit. A booming three-pointer by Celiz with 1:41 left made it a five-point game, 72-77, and their pressure defense flustered the young Scorpions into committing a turnover in their next possession.
Celiz just missed a lay-up, but Ablaza was there for the putback that made it a one-possession game, 74-77, with still 1:33 left to play.
Author: Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News
Full Article: http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/03/17/ceu-fends-off-batangas-advances-to-d-league-semis
With the victory, the Scorpions advanced to the semifinals of the 2017 PBA D-League Foundation Cup, where they arranged a best-of-three series with unbeaten top-seed Flying V Thunder.
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| Rod Ebondo had a double-double in CEU's win over Batangas. PBA Media Bureau |
The Scorpions were armed with a twice-to-beat advantage after finishing fourth in the elimination round, and appeared to be cruising to victory after surging to a 14-point lead, 67-53, with 8:49 to go. They still had an 11-point lead, 74-63, off a Rod Ebondo lay-up with 4:25 left to play.
But behind the efforts of Cedrick Ablaza and Rob Celiz, the Batangueños steadily chipped at the deficit. A booming three-pointer by Celiz with 1:41 left made it a five-point game, 72-77, and their pressure defense flustered the young Scorpions into committing a turnover in their next possession.
Celiz just missed a lay-up, but Ablaza was there for the putback that made it a one-possession game, 74-77, with still 1:33 left to play.
Author: Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News
Full Article: http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/03/17/ceu-fends-off-batangas-advances-to-d-league-semis
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