Bench-clearing brawl halts CEU-PCU game in NAASCU

A bench-clearing brawl erupts in the waning seconds of the semifinals game between Centro Escolar University and Philippine Christian University on Monday at Makati Coliseum. Randolph B. Leongson/INQUIRER.net

A bench-clearing brawl cut short a semifinals game between Centro Escolar University and Philippine Christian University on Monday in the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU) at Makati Coliseum.

Tensions rose between the Scorpions, the defending champions, and Dolphins after CEU’s Kenneth de Leon and PCU’s Andro Catipay and Yves Sazon got into a heated commotion in the waning seconds of the game with the contest already decided in favor of CEU.

The game was stopped with still 14.7 seconds left. The league awarded the win to the Scorpions, who were all over the Dolphins at that point ahead, 97-75.

A free-for-all fist fight ensued involving several players and coaches from both teams. The melee broke without warning and replays showed four PCU players ganging up on CEU’s Rey Telen in an ugly scene.

“Ayaw namin ng gulo (We don’t want to be involved in any fight). It’s not a good lesson for us and marami pa kaming laro (we still have a lot of games left),” said CEU head coach Egay Macaraya. “I don’t want us to be involved in that. But nagkagulo na nga (the fight already broke) so they have to protect themselves and defend.”

“Ang sa amin lang, pinoprotektahan namin yung mga bata (We just wanted to protect the boys),” added Macaraya, whose team booked the first finals seat but could miss some of his players, who got involved in the fight, in the championship round against either Rizal Technoligical University or St. Clare College of Caloocan.

NAASCU secretary general Pepe Sanchez said the league will review the unfortunate incident and assured that penalties will handed out to those involved on Tuesday.

“We’re reviewing and we’ll be coming out with the decision tomorrow,” Sanchez said.

CEU led by as much as 28 points, 90-62. Aaron Jeruta led the Scorpions with 16 points while Dexter Mescallado’s 27 points paced the Dolphins.

Earlier, RTU forced a winner-take-all Game 3 following a 72-64 victory over St. Clare.

The finals will start on Thursday.