HAPEE IN SCARY PBA D-LEAGUE DEBUT WIN; JUMBO, TANDUAY SCORE
Hapee fended off a late-game scare from AMA University and roared on its much awaited local hoops return with a 69-61 victory Monday in the 2015 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena.
Troy Rosario topscored for the loaded Fresh Fighters with 12 points and five boards, while Bobby Ray Parks had an all-around game with his 11 markers, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
Garvo Lanete also chimed in a double-double performance with his 10 points and 10 rebounds in the win.
“Sa nakikita ko any given day, if you let your guard down, madadale ka. You always have to play your best,” said Hapee coach Ronnie Magsanoc.
Hapee eked out the win despite having practiced for only three days, prompting Magsanoc to pinpoint their team chemistry as the main concern for the stacked Fresh Fighters.
“Challenge for us na mabuo kami kasi may school practices pa sila,” he said. “It’s on us to practice together and improve together.”
Hapee led by as big a 20, 52-32, midway in the third, but the AMA backcourt of Philip Paniamogan and Ivan Camasura teamed up and lifted the Titans back in the game, nipping the lead to as low as three, 62-59, with four minutes left to play.
But AMA started misfiring, as Parks, Ola Adeogun, and Earl Scottie Thompson provided the finishing kick for the Fresh Fighters.
Paniamogan led the Titans with 14 points, 12 coming in the second half, while Joseph Eriobu had a near double-double of 12 markers and eight boards.
In the second game, Jumbo Plastic used a late game rally to pull the rug under Cebuana Lhuillier, 63-61, for its second win in the tourney.
Dexter Maiquez drained two booming treys in the final 2:04 to instigate the 13-3 blast which gave the Giants a 61-56 lead. He finished with 14 points, 12 of which coming in the second half, to go with nine rebounds, while Mark Cruz added 10 points, five boards, and four dimes.
Kevin Ferrer drained two three-pointers in the clutch to keep the Gems fighting, but it wasn’t enough as Paul Zamar missed a potential game-tying basket with 12 seconds left to play.
“Yun siguro ang maganda, para machallenge yung mga bata and gain experience sa latter part of the ballgames para mag-improve pa kami,” said Jumbo Plastic coach Stevenson Tiu.
Ferrer topped Cebuana with 14 points, nine of which coming in the fourth period, as Simon Enciso chipped in 10.
In the third game, AJ Mandani proved to be the hero as Tanduay Light escaped MJM Builders, 78-77.
Getting the ball from Gab Banal at the throw-in, Mandani drove straight to the basket and got the lucky bounce to nail the game-winning basket with 3.4 seconds left to play.
Gelo Alolino and Nico Javelona tried to steal the victory, but their jumpers in the end game failed to find the bottom of the net.
“It was a great team win. I just rolled to the basket and I got a good look. It was exactly the play coach drew up,” said Mandani.
Roi Sumang paced the Rhum Masters with 16 points and five dimes, while Leo de Vera added 15 markers on 7-of-10 shooting from the field to go with 10 rebounds.
Glenn Khobuntin steered the ship for the Builders with his 18 points and seven boards, as Alolino did it all on the floor with his 16 points, six rebounds, and four assists.
Mac Belo got 13 points against his former team. (RL)
The Scores:
First Game:
Hapee 69 – Rosario 12, Parks 11, Lanete 10, Adeogun 7, dela Cruz 6, Amer 5, Thompson 5, Van Opstal 4, Newsome 4, Hayes 3, Long 2, Koga 0.
AMA University 61 – Paniamogan 14, Eriobu 12, Camasura 8, Taganas 7, Olivares 7, Purdy 4, Sabangan 4, Balucanag 2, Angeles 2, Macaranas 1, Calma 0, Jordan 0, Diswe 0
Quarters: 15-13, 41-28, 59-48, 69-61.
Second Game:
Jumbo Plastic 63 – Maiquez 14, Cruz 10, Heruela 9, Lozada 9, Sabellina 70, Terso 5, Rosales 4, Magat 3, Javier 2, Eguilos 0, Rios 0, Villamor 0.
Cebuana Lhuillier 61 – Ferrer 14, Enciso 10, Sison 8, A. Mangahas 6, Zamar 6, Guinto 6, Ciriacruz 4, Acibar 2, Torres 2, Sarangay 2, J. Mangahas 1, Villahermosa 0, Arellano 0.
Quarters: 7-17, 26-28, 44-41, 63-61.
Third Game:
Tanduay Light 78 – Sumang 16, De Vera 15, Belencion 10, Banal 7, Mandani 6, Roño 6, Tagarda 5, Ignacio 4, Jumao-as 3, Santos 2, Ilagan 2, Foronda 2, Abrigo 0, De Leon 0.
MJM Builders 77 – Khobuntin 18, Alolino 16, Belo 13, Tolomia 8, Pogoy 7, Javelona 5, Perez 4, Cruz 4, Jose 2, Alberto 0, Mendoza 0, Iñigo 0, Neypes 0.
Quarters: 16-17, 39-37, 65-56, 78-77.
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