Ebondo-less Centro prevails

No Congolese center Rod Ebondo? No problem for defending champion Centro Escolar University — at least against Lyceum-Batangas yesterday.

Nigerian big man Ebuka Umeanozie did his best impersonation of Ebondo as the Scorpions proved too much for the Pirates with an 85-56 win to inch closer towards a Final Four berth in the Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) Season 2 at the Olivarez College gym in Sucat, Parañaque City.

The wide-bodied Umeanozie banged in all of his 10 points in the second frame where CEU started to take control before Judel Fuentes and their local teammates took turns in delivering the finishing touches over an outclassed Lyceum-Batangas side.

“It’s a tough blow to play without Rod but I’m confident that the guys can rise to the challenge,” said Scorpions coach Yong Garcia, confident that they can overcome the absence of the 6-foot-7 Ebondo, who’s been called up by his home country, Republic of Congo, to see action in the African World Cup qualifiers.

Fuentes had a team-high 18 points on four triples, while Paul Galinato and Christian Uri combined for 27 points as CEU claimed its second straight win and eighth overall in nine matches, seizing the solo lead in the process.

August Lapasaran had a gamebest 19 points but the rest of his teammates groped for form as the Pirates dropped to 2-7 overall, on the brink of early elimination.