Ron Rei Tolentino delivered in the crunch as Centro Escolar University (CEU) outlasted Philippine Sports Performance (PSP), 109-107, in a double-overtime thriller to stay in the hunt for an outright semifinals berth in the 2023 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City on Thursday, May 25.
Tolentino showed nerves of steel and nailed a clutch triple with 18 seconds left in the second extension to put the Scorpions in the driver seat, 108-107, before CEU clamped down on the defensive end in the waning seconds to preserve the win. Scoreless in the first half, Tolentino came alive in the final frame and the overtime periods by pouring in 14 of his 20 points that also came with 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals. His second overtime heroics also saved CEU from the fangs of defeat after the Scorpions squandered a comfortable 98-90 lead in the final 50 seconds of the first overtime. “Wala na ‘yung Xs and Os dito eh, it's all about hearts and hats off to our players for not giving up. Hindi sila sumuko against a veteran team like PSP,” said CEU head coach Jeff Perlas. The Scorpions improved to a 3-2 record and bolstered their chance to clinch one of the semis berth if they win their next game against league-pacing Marinerong Pilipino. Franz Diaz added 21 points while Jerome Santos contributed 16 points. Ayodeji Balogun also had his share with a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds. Mark Meneses paced PSP with 22 points while Wendell Comboy added 19. Val Acuna, whose veteran poise showed up when he rallied PSP back from a 90-98 deficit, almost won it for the Gymers towards the end of the first overtime but the ball left his hand a split second later when he made the floater at the buzzer. He finished with 15 points while the 15 assists effort of PBA hopeful Fran Yu also went down the drain.
*Ron Rei Tolentino saves the day for the CEU Scorpions. (PBA D-League Images)
*Tolentino showed nerves of steel and nailed a clutch triple with 18 seconds left in the second extension to put the Scorpions in the driver seat, 108-107, before CEU clamped down on the defensive end in the waning seconds to preserve the win. Scoreless in the first half, Tolentino came alive in the final frame and the overtime periods by pouring in 14 of his 20 points that also came with 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals. His second overtime heroics also saved CEU from the fangs of defeat after the Scorpions squandered a comfortable 98-90 lead in the final 50 seconds of the first overtime. “Wala na ‘yung Xs and Os dito eh, it's all about hearts and hats off to our players for not giving up. Hindi sila sumuko against a veteran team like PSP,” said CEU head coach Jeff Perlas. The Scorpions improved to a 3-2 record and bolstered their chance to clinch one of the semis berth if they win their next game against league-pacing Marinerong Pilipino. Franz Diaz added 21 points while Jerome Santos contributed 16 points. Ayodeji Balogun also had his share with a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds. Mark Meneses paced PSP with 22 points while Wendell Comboy added 19. Val Acuna, whose veteran poise showed up when he rallied PSP back from a 90-98 deficit, almost won it for the Gymers towards the end of the first overtime but the ball left his hand a split second later when he made the floater at the buzzer. He finished with 15 points while the 15 assists effort of PBA hopeful Fran Yu also went down the drain.