Scorpions thwart Marineros, rule NCRAA tourney

MANILA, Philippines — Centro Escollar University completed a perfect season with a 62-61 squeaker over Philippine Merchant Marine School Mariners in what was easily one of the best games ever played  in the  NCR Athletic Association (NCRAA) men’s basketball tournament Wednesday at the Paco Arena in Manila. 

The Scorpions squandered a big lead early on and found themselves teetering on the brink of defeat as the Mariners repeatedly came back to force a rubber for the crown. But coach Derick Pumaren and his troops stood their ground against coach Aldrin Morante and his Mariners.

“I’m really happy for the boys. I know PMMS would come back. But our players dig deep, they suck it up and there’s no reason to be tired,” said Pumaren.

It was a perfect 11-0 campaign for the Scorpions, who also defeated the Mariners, 63-59, in Game 1, but for Pumaren, the ability of his team to overcome pressure was a big factor in completing the task.

“We played four straight games. That’s how tough it was for us,” said Pumaren, referring to their debut game a day earlier in the PBA D-League against Diliman Blue Dragons, which they beat, 93-76.

The triumvirate of Tyrone Chan, Christian Uri and Rich Guinitaran were coach Pumaren’s weapons of destruction against the fighting Mariners.

Chan finished with 16 points and eight rebounds while Uri added 14 markers. Guinitaran, the scoring champion, added 12 points and eight boards.

The Scorpions broke the game wide open, leading 20-10 in the first period but the Mariners kept  coming back and by the start of the fourth period, they were only trailing by five, 53-48, behind Ralph Briones and Kurt Sunga.

The Mariners  had one last shot at  snatching a win but with the Scorpions having fouls to give and time running out, they could not reverse the outcome.  PMMS was left with only two seconds to map up a play and Bryan Hilario had no other choice but to make a desperation heave as time expired.