CEU’s Maodo Malick Diouf. PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—Undermanned Centro Escolar University pulled off an upset of Go for Gold-College of St. Benilde, 87-74, to advance to the semifinals of 2019 PBA D-League Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig
The Scorpions fielded just seven players in the game after the school itself expelled the rest of the roster because of alleged game fixing.
That forced Maodo Malick Diouf to play the whole 40 minutes where he tallied 25 points, 29 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks to lead the shorthanded Scorpions.
“I’m happy for the boys, especially these seven guys, and of course Malick,” said head coach Derrick Pumaren in Filipino. “He’s been our game changer in this league.”
Jerome Santos added 15 points and six rebounds, while Rich Guinitiran had 11 points for CEU, which will face St. Clare College Virtual Reality in the best-of-three semis.
CEU expelled Judel Fuentes, Tyron Chan, Jan Formento, Christian Uri, Keanu Caballero, John Rojas, and John Lisbo, all of whom admitted to fixing games.
“The seven players involved in game fixing all admitted their actions and we also have strong evidence against them,” said Pumaren. “They’re out of the team, we cannot tolerate it”
“We love the game, and what they did just violated the sport. It’s unfair to those who really want to play.”
The Scatchers nearly stopped CEU from snatching the win with a gutsy fourth quarter to close the 17-point deficit to just four, 68-64, but Diouf sparked a 10-2 retaliatory run for the Scorpions’ 74-66 lead.
Roosevelt Adams led the Scratchers with 26 points and 11 rebounds while Gab Banal had 18 points, six rebounds, and six assists in the loss.