JK Casiño. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
JK Casiño is the professor and the fourth quarter is his lesson.
Centro Escolar University’s point guard went crazy in the final period as he fired the Scorpions to a victory over De La Salle University, 93-78, for the first time in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Preseason Premier Cup on Saturday at The Arena in San Juan City.
Casiño scored all of his 17 points in the fourth quarter as the Scorpions improved to 6-1 while the Archers fell to 5-2 in Group B of the tournament.
Scorpions head coach Egay Macaraya said his players’ stint in the PBA D-League was a major factor not only on their play but also on their attitude.
“It’s a great factor, I only have six guys playing in the D-League and the reserves too want to join us there,” Macaraya, also the head coach of Cafe France, said. “They are pushing themselves to the limit.”
Casiño went on a personal 14-6 run to start CEU’s fourth quarter and give the Scorpions a 79-62 lead with 6:21 remaining.
La Salle managed to trim the CEU lead to 10, 79-69, when they staged a 7-0 run with Jason Perkins capping it off with a triple from the top of the key with 4:38 remaining.
CEU, however, laid their cards down and put all their chips on Casiño.
With 3:26 remaining in the game, Casiño swished home a trifecta from the top of the key to give CEU the 82-69 lead.
Aaron Jeruta was the high-point man for CEU as he finished with 19 points while Rodrigue Ebondo had 15 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks.
Perkins led the Green Archers with 19 points and five boards. RC