CEU, St. Clare hurdle rivals
Marinerong Pilipino’s Gab Banal (right) draws a foul from CEU’s Joseph Manlagit in their D-League match Monday .—AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Wangs-Letran stays unscathed after second win Alvin Pasaol admitted he felt weird seeing his former coach Derrick Pumaren on the other side.
“I miss him,” Pasaol said on Monday, the first time they were on opposing ends after Pumaren’s departure from University of the East last year.
Pasaol, playing for Marinerong Pilipino in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup, faced his longtime collegiate coach, now serving as general manager for Centro Escolar University.
CEU beat Marinerong Pilipino, 104-93, in its debut match.
Rod Ebondo paced the Scorpions with 31 points and nine rebounds while Judel Fuentes added 20, including five crucial points in the homestretch.
Pasaol said their time away from each other won’t change the kind of relationship they have as they exchanged banter before the game at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
“Manong even kidded that my butt is getting hot sitting on the bench,” the forward related.
He may be away from Pumaren and his job may be a lot different from his role with the Red Warriors, but Pasaol knows the veteran mentor is always watching him.
For now, he’s keeping the faith in coach Koy Banal whose Skippers dropped to 1-2.
“I still need to learn coach Koy’s system that’s why I haven’t got much playing time yet,” said the 22-year-old Pasaol.
In another match, Wangs Basketball-Letran overcame a 16-point deficit to pull off an 83-82 win over Che’Lu Bar and Grill-San Sebastian and stay unbeaten in two starts.
Che’Lu-SSC dropped to 1-1, the same record of Gamboa Coffee Mix-St. Clare which routed Batangas-Emilio Aguinaldo College, 104-81, in the opener.
Trevis Jackson scored 30 points while Malian big man Mohammed Pare got 18 points and 11 boards for the Coffee Lovers, who led by as many as 31 points, 99-68, late in the game.
Chris dela Peña paced Batangas-EAC (0-2) with 14 points. —RANDOLPH B. LEONGSON, INQUIRER.NET
GAMBOA-ST. CLARE 104—Jackson 30, Pare 18, Ambuludto 13, Dionisio 9, Hallare 9, Bitoon 8, Rubio 6, Rebugio 6, Penaredondo 3, Acuno 2, Alcober 0, Fontanilla 0, Jumaquio 0.
BATANGAS-EAC 81—Dela Peña 14, Maguliano 13, De Joya 9, E. Mendoza 8, Laude 7, Diego 7, J. Mendoza 6, Bautista 5, Altamirano 4, Tampoc 4, Martin 0, Pate 0.
Quarters: 20-21, 53-38, 81-59, 104-81
