Centro Escolar shoots for a back-to-back National Athletics Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (Naascu) men’s basketball crown against St. Clare starting today at Makati Coliseum.
Game 1 of the best of three title series is set at 2 p.m. with CEU heavily favored to prevail after beating St. Clare twice in the eliminations.
The Scorpions have yet to lose this season. Their last loss came in Game 1 of last year’s title playoffs to St. Clare before they swept the Saints in the next two games to clinch the crown.
CEU is actually gunning for a three-division sweep—against St. Clare at 11 a.m. in the juniors bracket and against Rizal Technological U at 12:30 p.m. in the women’s category.
CEU coach Egay Macaraya is not taking St. Clare lightly, however.
“This is a strong league. In fact teams in Naascu have been playing in the Champions League and doing very well there,” said Macaraya whose Scorpions finished third in this year’s Philippine Collegiate Champions League.
The Scorpions enjoy an intact lineup of veterans featuring Rodrigue Ebondo, Earven Silverie, Aaron Jeruta, Joseph Sedurifa and Samboy de Leon.
No team has gone all the way to the title without losing a game except for the legendary University of Manila team that established a five-year dynasty that included 82 straight victories in Naascu’s early years.
“We have what it takes to win, it showed in the eliminations,” said St. Clare coach Jino Manansala.
St. Clare will lean on core players Jayson Ibay, Marte Gil, Jan Acebron, Fabien Redoh, Darwin Lunor, Jammer Jamito and Elmer Managuelod.