Scorpions prick Mariners, close in on NCRAA title

MANILA, Philippines — Centro Escolar University is one win closer to an NCRAA men’s basketball tournament crown under veteran mentor Derick Pumaren.

The Scorpions went to main man Rich Guinitaran all game long, but got the insurance basket needed from pint size guard Keanu Caballero in the endgame to preserve a 63-59 win over the Philippine Merchant Marine School and draw first blood in their best-of-three championship duel.

CEU can wrap things up with a win on Wednesday.

Guinitaran, the high-scoring forward, scored a team-high 26 points to lead the charge for the Scorpions, who can win an NCRAA title right on their debut season.

Caballero, who committed an ill-advised flagrant foul earlier on Kurt Sunga, nearly cost the game for the Scorpions. His bone head move resulted in three of four charity shots for the Mariners, but the CEU guard made up for that with a nifty layup with 8.5 seconds left in the match for the marginal basket that sent the Scorpions within striking distance of the championship.

Olivarez College Gymnasium was filled mostly by PMMS fans, who rallied the Mariners from a 51-39 deficit midway the third period.

“We know mas marami silang fans na nagpunta, but we just played our game. We kept our focus,” said Guinitaran.