DILIMAN College Blue Dragons, led by six-foot Senegalese Adama Diakhite, beat the Centro Escolar University Scorpions, 65-63 last Friday to claim the 23rd Fr. Martin Cup Summer Basketball tournament men’s basketball crown at the MVP gymnasium of the San Beda Manila campus in Mendiola.
The 19-year-old Diakhite came up with a double-double after scoring 31 points and grabbing 18 rebounds for the Blue Dragons.
Two other teammates, Rickson Gerero and Kristoffer Torrado, backed him up with 21 and seven points respectively as the Blue Dragons went on to claim their first ever crown in the tournament that’s supported by Armor On Sportswear.
“It’s about how we stop them from scoring. Pumuputok iyung tatlo (Orlan) Wamar, (John Carlo) Casino and (Paul) Galinato),” said Blue Dragons coach Rensy Bajar.
Defense of the Scorpions’ three prolific shooters worked wonders for the Blue Dragons right from the start.
Limiting the Scorpions to just six points in the first period allowed the Blue Dragons to establish an 18-6 advantage in the first 10 minutes.
Gerero hit seven of his 21-point tally before Diakhite took over in the next period.
Diakhite made 10 points in the second canto to lead the Blue Dragons to a 34-24 halftime spread.
Paul Galinato, one of the Scorpion main gunners, had only eight points.
Orlan Wamar fired a game-high 14 points for the Scorpions, who reached the finals after they beat the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 83-77.
Casino had 11 points for the Scorpions, who fell behind by 15 in the fourth.
Diakhite’s dunk with 7:35 to go gave the Blue Dragons their biggest lead, 57-42.
The Blue Dragons, who got together only last January, were the first to the semis when they prevailed over the Letran Knights, 91-85, in the semifinals last week.
Gerero’s layup off a fastbreak play from rebound and fastbreak play by Diakhite in the last 34.1 seconds of the third canto saw the Blue Dragons taking a 13-point spread, 53-40.
The Blue Dragons went on to claim their second championship this month since the recent Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) Summer Invitational.