CEU debuts in style in Filoil

MANILA, Philippines -- With their offense in disarray, Centro Escolar University turned to its team defense to eke out a 76-67 win over Emilio Aguinaldo College at the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at the San Juan Arena on Monday.

After a Carlo Casiño triple made it 64-52 in favor of CEU, the Generals slowly came back behind Cameroonian center Cedric Noube Happi and Igee King. Happi scored back-to-back baskets inside while King added two free throws to cut the lead to 67-61.

EAC had another opportunity to cut the lead down further but CEU’s Congolese center Rodrigue Ebondo swatted Jerald Serrano’s three-point attempt into the seats. With 15 seconds left on the shot clock, CEU forced a 24-second shot clock violation on EAC. Scorpions forward Rodel De Leon then scored back-to-back baskets to hike the lead back to 10.

King hit two free throws to cut the lead down to eight but a technical foul slapped on EAC head coach Gerry Esplana for vociferously complaining about a non-call saw CEU’s lead go back up to double digits, 73-63, with 2:30 left to play.

In the match’s final two minutes, CEU, the current NAASCU champions, forced another shot clock violation that killed any comeback attempt by the Generals.

CEU point guard Mon Abundo credited their win to their recent exposure in the PBA D-League with Café France. “The D-League exposed us to physical play and much needed experience. And it helped us prepare for this tournament.”

Added power forward Alfred Batiño, the former back up to JuneMar Fajardo at the University of Cebu, “Sabi ni coach (former pro Edgar Macaraya), di na bale malas sa opensa kasi sa depensa walang malas.”

CEU shot a paltry 38% from the field while EAC hit 44% of their shots; much of that coming in from close range on 8-15 shooting.

The Scorpions’ defensive statistics showed them with more steals (5-1) and blocks, 5-1) while forcing EAC into 25 turnovers to their 15.

“As the saying goes, ‘defense wins championships.’ And that is our philosophy. This is a new experience for us,” noted Macaraya. “Hopefully, this will help us in NAASCU.”

CEU saw four players score in double digits. Batiño led the Scorpions with 15 points while Ebondo added 12, Joseph Sedurifa 11, and Abundo, 10.

Noube topscored with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Igee King added 11 points while Sidney Onwubere chipped in 10.