Deadly Scorpions one win away from UCAL crown

MANILA, Philippines — Centro Escolar University banked heavily on Abdul-Wahab Olusesi’s monster performance and beat Diliman College, 80-73, to inch closer to a second straight championship in the Universities and Colleges Athletic League-PG Flex Linoleum Season 6 yesterday at the Paco Arena in Manila.

The 6-foot-10 from Nigeria produced 22 points and 19 rebounds to help the Scorpions win the opener of their best-of-three title series in the event also presented by Angel’s Pizza.

Another win tomorrow will make CEU the first school to win the title three times since the birth of the league eight years ago which the Scorpions also won.

But the win did not come easy as the top-seeded Scorpions had to buck a slow start before controlling the game starting in the second frame with Olusesi dominating the paint and the troika of Daniel Marcelo, Franz Ray Diaz and Dylan Darbin providing the needed firepower.

CEU’s balanced attack negated the 33-point explosion of Axl Ross Taporco who highlighted his offensive brilliance with 8 triples – the most by any player this season. His marksmanship caught the fancy of several scouts who witnessed the game before an enthralled crowd.

Marcelo came off the bench to score 24 points while Diaz had 14 points apart from logging 5 rebounds and 3 assists and Darbin chipped in 11 points.

A surprise triple from Mark Anthony Anagbogu, however, proved to be the push the Scorpions needed as it sparked a telling run that saw them slowly pull away and build a 13-point lead, 37-24.

The Blue Dragons, who beat the Scorpions, 86-73, in the elims, recovered their bearings and pulled within 76-70 on a Taporco triple.

But a powerful inside play by Olesesi ended Diliman’s comeback bid, 78-70, with barely 36 ticks left.