Rodrigue Ebondo Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
Rod Ebondo proved to be steady in the clutch as the Cameroonian big man steered Centro Escolar University to a pulsating 83-78 Game 1 victory over St. Clare College of Caloocan in the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (NAASCU) Finals Thursday at Makati Coliseum.
Ebondo scored on a putback in the final minute before nailing a huge trey with 32 seconds left to put the Scorpions up for good, 79-72, as the Mendiola crew moved one game closer from defending their crown.
READ: St. Clare sets up NAASCU finals date with CEU
“Alam naman natin na Ebondo is one of my main guys. In the end, talagang pumupunta lang ‘yan sa guard ko at kay Ebondo and sila ang naglalaro pag crucial,” said CEU coach Egay Macaraya.
(We all know that Ebondo is one of my main guys. In the end, we only go to our guard and Ebondo, and they play during crucial moments.)
(We know that Ebondo is one of my main guys. In the end, we’re really going to our guard and to Ebondo and they are the ones who really perform in crucial plays.)
The 6-foot-7 center wound up with 19 points, 13 coming in the payoff period, alongside 13 rebounds, two steals, and one rejection.
Mon Abundo chimed in 16 markers, while Jason Opiso got 14 points.
Samboy de Leon also joined the scoring party with 11 markers, as Aaron Jeruta got 10.
It was a sorry defeat for St. Clare, which rallied behind Jon Ibarra’s 18 points, 10 of which came in the close fourth quarter. IDL