Centro Escolar University spoiled Willie Wilson and Gani Stevens’ debut for Builders Warehouse-University of Santo Tomas, taking an 86-69 win in the 2022 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig, Tuesday.

The Growling Tigers scored the first three points of the game but it was all Scorpions afterward, cruising to a 45-28 lead at the half.

The victory snapped CEU’s two-game slide to improve to .500 at 2-2, good for fifth.

“Pinakaimportante dito ay yung learning process namin talagang gusto ng mga batang mag step-up talaga,” said Scorpions head coach Chico Manabat. “‘Coach, ayaw naming maging kulelat.’ bonus na sa akin yun, hindi ko yun sinasabi pero sila ‘yung nagtatrabaho niyan.”

Franz Diaz tallied a game-high 23 points for CEU along with five rebounds and three assists.

Jerome Santos chipped in 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Lenard Santiago drained three triples to finish with 16 points, six rebounds, and four steals.

Nic Cabañero flirted with a triple-double for the 0-3 Growling Tigers, registering 16 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists.

After arriving just last Sunday from the States, American guard Willie Wilson tallied 11 points in 15:12 of play while 6-foot-7 Filipino-American big man Gani Stevens, plagued with three fouls at halftime, had four points and eight rebounds.

UST will try to enter the win column on Thursday, 10:30 am, against Adalem Construction-St.Clare at SMART Araneta Coliseum. CEU looks to make it back-to-back wins next Tuesday against Apex Fuel-San Sebastian.

The Scores:

• CEU 86 – Diaz 23, Santos 16, Santiago 16, Ancheta 10, Bernabe 8, Tolentino 6, Balogun 4, Cabotaje 3, Ferrer 0, Borromeo 0, Reyes 0.

• Builders-UST – Cabanero 16, Concepcion 12, Wilson 11, Manalang 5, Herrera 5, Stevens 4, Mantua 4, Pangilinan 4, Santos 3, Baclaan 3, Lazarte 2, Canoy 0, Gesalem 0, Crisostomo 0.

Quarters: 21-10, 45-28, 60-46, 84-69.