CEU, St. Clare keep Naascu top 2 berths

FLASHY guard Samboy de Leon showed that he deserves such a name, banging in 24 points in Centro Escolar University’s 82-51 blowout win over Our Lady of Fatima University  yesterday in the National Athletics Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (Naascu) basketball tournament.

Named after PBA legend and former Letran Knights superstar Samboy Lim, the 6-foot-2 wingman paced the Scorpions who scored their ninth win in as many games before their thrilled schoolmates at CEU Manila Gym.

Defending champion St. Clare College employed a balanced attack  in downing Rizal Technological University, 84-60, for its eighth victory against a single loss.

Starters Marte Gil, Dennis Santos and Elmer Managuelod chalked up 15 points each, while veteran Jayson Ibay added 14 for the Saints, whose only loss came at the hands of the Scorpions.

CEU and St. Clare brace for another showdown at the close of the eliminations on Friday at Makati Coliseum.

The Baby Scorpions also kept their record clean, blasting the Baby Phoenix, 71-51, for their seventh win. It was Fatima’s third loss in seven games.

Christopher Bitoon  came away with 19 points as the Baby Saints roared to 74-51 victory over the New Era Baby Hunters. St. Clare improved to 4-3, while NEU slumped to 1-6.