CEU stuns San Beda, crashes D-League finals

MANILA, Philippines — Centro Escolar U denied Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda a rematch with EcoOil-La Salle, running away with a big 78-56 win in the win-or-go-home Game 3 to become the surprise finalist in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup Thursday night at the Ynares Sports Arena.

Team captain Franz Ray Diaz anchored the statement victory with 21 points, including 13 in their first-half breakaway, as the Scorpions earned a 2-1 series win to reach the finals for only the third time in D-League history.

CEU last made it to the D-League finals in the 2019 Aspirants’ Cup after a breakthrough stint in the 2017 Foundation Cup.

And the Scorpions ended that drought in style, spoiling the intended finals party between the UAAP and NCAA champions in the process.

“Every time you beat a team like San Beda, ‘yung feeling na syempre they’re one of the top collegiate programs in the country and CEU is just outside of the UAAP and the NCAA,” said coach Jeff Perlas, looking forward to Game 1 of their titular showdown with La Salle on Monday.

“It’s really a big morale-booster not just for the players but also for the entire CEU community,” he added.