Scorpions, Skippers rout rivals, reach PBA D-League semis

Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Thu, 12 Sep 2019 09:29:38 +0000

Centro Escolar University cruised to an 89-48 rout of quarterfinal foe Asia’s Lashes Tomas Morato to reach the semifinals of the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Maodo Malick Diouf is fouled as he drives to the basket.

Rich Guinitaran scored 16 points and 14 rebounds while two other players also registered double-doubles as the Scorpions easily ripped the Soldiers to make the D-League’s final four for the third straight conference.

Dave Bernabe had 15 points and 10 rebounds while Senegalese center Maodo Malick Diouf added 12 points and 13 rebounds for CEU, which will faces the winner of the quarterfinal meeting between BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare and Hyperwash.

Sumisip-St. Clare is favored to beat Hyperwash after winning all six matches to earn top seed in Group B.

Scorpions coach Derrick Pumaren is convinced his team will have a big mountain to climb if the Saints were the team that prevails in that quarters meeting.

“We have to be ready for the next phase of the semifinals and not let ourselves be intimidated by them,” said Pumaren on the likelihood of the CEU-Sumisip series.

Jhygruz Laude was the lone double-digit scorer for Asia’s Lashes with 11 points as the team shot only 28 percent from the field while committing 23 turnovers.

CEU went on a 14-4 start before ending the first quarter ahead 43-16 behind a combined 22 points from Guinitaran and Diouf.
“I told the team that we cannot take them lightly and we have to jump on them right away,” Pumaren said.

Meantime, Marinerong Pilipino became the first team to reach the semifinals after rolling past AMA Online Education, 100-78.

Eloy Poligrates was one of six players to score in double figures with 19 points as the Skippers leaned on a strong start on their way to a return trip to the semis after missing out on a playoff
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