The Centro Escolar University Scorpions prevailed in a knockout game against the Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas Pirates, 71-64, in the semi-finals of the University and Colleges Athletic League (UCAL)-PG Flex Linoleum Season 6 yesterday, March 14, at the Paco Arena.
Starting with a strong offense, the Scorpions already tried to build up the pace and took the lead just four minutes into the start of the game. However, the LPU-B Pirates countered with a robust defense, earning points and narrowing the gap.
In the second half, the Pirates then sought redemption, getting their own momentum. Despite this, the Scorpions kept up, leading to a head-to-head battle between the two teams as they raced to accumulate points with the time crunch.
Player of the game, Captain Franz Diaz, showed remarkable offense, garnering 18 points, 4 assists, and 5 rebounds.
In an interview, he stated that they were very excited coming into this game and that the trust within the team is a stepping stone. He also hoped that they could bring this attitude into the finals.
The semi-final game concluded with the CEU Scorpions securing a win and a spot in the best-of-three finals where they’ll be playing against the Diliman College Blue Dragons.