Scorpions stretch UCAL title reign

MANILA, Philippines — Centro Escolar University went full throttle in the third quarter and dispatched Diliman College, 74-61, to extend its reign in the Universities and Colleges Athletic League-PG Flex Linoleum Basketball Championship yesterday at the Paco Arena in Manila.

The Scorpions, starring Daniel Marcelo and Franz Ray Diaz, outscored the Blue Dragons from Diliman, 27-6, on the way to repeating their two-game sweep of the finals last year.

From what’s actually a 14-game season sweep in 2023, the Scorpions reigned on and became the first team in the eight-year history of the league to win the title three times, bettering the record of their victims who lorded over for two straight years (2019-2020) before the pandemic halted the league.

Meantime, Olivarez College demolished Lyceum of the Philippines University, 84-69, in the battle for third place in the event presented by Angel’s Pizza.

Finals MVP winner Marcelo topscored with 23 for the Scorpions drew spark from Dave Bernabe and Dylan Darbin in a crucial onslaught to put the Scorpions away. They led by 19 at 55-36 at the end of the third.