St. Clare, CEU play off for Naascu title today
DEFENDING champion St. Clare and Centro Escolar University clash in a rubber match today for the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities men’s basketball championship at Makati Coliseum.
Momentum has shifted in favor of the CEU Scorpions following their emphatic 67-59 win over the Saints in last Friday’s Game 2, but St. Clare is expected to lean on its championship experience in the 10 a.m. decider of the best-of-three title series.
The Scorpions are looking to nail their first-ever championship while the Saints are hoping to become the newest multititled team in the league.
A win will also keep CEU’s bid for a rare triple championship sweep alive this season as it also vies for the junior title against Fatima in Game 3 of their own series earlier at 7:30 a.m.
CEU clinched the women’s pennant last Friday over Rizal Technological University.
Unbeaten run halted
St. Clare coach Jinno Manansala said they have already solved the CEU riddle that befuddled them all season after their 70-68 win in Game 1 last Wednesday. The win stopped the Scorpions’ unbeaten run in the tournament at 11.
“We have a lot of pride and we know that we are hungry enough to come back in Game 3,” said Manansala, who delivered several titles to the now-defunct University of Manila before steering the Saints to their first crown last year.
But CEU coach Egay Macaraya said they are confident of going all the way, especially now that their bench has the capability to step up when needed.
Macaraya also gave the now-inactive San Sebastian-Cavite back-to-back league titles in 2008 and 2009.
Jason Opiso scored 13 points to lead the Scorpions, who also got 11 points and 13 rebounds from Cameroonian Rodrigue Ebondo in tying the series last Friday.
The Saints also got big numbers from Mark Robin Dulalia, who came off the bench with 14 points, but top scorer Dennis Santos was shut out like the rest of the starting roster, except for Elmer Managuelod, who finished with 21 points.
