CAFE FRANCE, CAGAYAN CLAIM SHARE OF D-LEAGUE LEAD
Cafe France reigned supreme in the battle of undefeated teams as the Bakers drubbed Jumbo Plastic Linoleum Giants, 66-61, Thursday in the 2015 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena.
Rodrigue Ebondo scored 10 of his 16 points in the second half, to go with his 13 rebounds and three blocks.
Joseph Sedurifa chimed in 12 markers, while Bong Galanza got eight of his 11 points in the last two quarters.
With the game tied at 43 in the third quarter, the Bakers unleashed a 16-1 run to take a 59-44 advantage with 6:11 left in the fourth period. But Jumbo Plastic just won’t sink, as Jaymo Eguilos and Brian Heruela joined forces to pull the Giants back in the game in the last three minutes.
After Maclean Sabellina scored on an undergoal stab to cut Cafe France’s lead down to four, 65-61, with 27.8 ticks to go, Jumbo Plastic just couldn’t buy a basket, with Heruela’s three-pointers failing to find the bottom of the net.
“I guess one factor is our boys, they’re jelling on defense. They put in the heart on playing defense. I told my boys, it all starts with good defense,” said Cafe France coach Egay Macaraya.
He added, “The problem now is we have to learn how to be composed and controlled kasi palagi kaming nahahabol. Kailangan talaga ma-manage namin yung paghawak ng lead.”
“In the three games namin, we were just very lucky. Sana magtuloy-tuloy na,” Macaraya said, as they brace for Cagayan Valley which will parade Fil-Tongan center Moala Tautuaa in their next game.
Eguilos led Jumbo Plastic (2-1) with 11 points and nine rebounds.
Earlier, Bread Story-LPU scored a monumental upset over Tanduay Light, silencing the Rhum Masters in the second half to take the 69-64 victory for their first win of the season.
Jiovanni Jalalon scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half, to go with three rebounds and four assists, while Joseph Gabayni added eight markers and eight boards.
Mike Gamboa and Ed Daquioag also scored eight points apiece.
Bread Story limited Tanduay to 3-of-29 shooting in the second half. The former also forced the Rhim Masters to commit 25 turnovers, which they translated to 21 turnover points.
John Foronda led Tanduay with a double-double of 11 points and 15 rebounds, while Robin Roño added 10.
In the third game, Cagayan Valley pulled the rug from under Cebuana Lhuillier and stole a 79-76 victory to remain undefeated in three outings.
Abel Galliguez captained an inspired third quarter run, as he poured in 11 of his 22 points in the period to help the Rising Suns climb back from a 17-point hole, 29-12, in the second quarter.
“Coach (Alvin Pua) told us this game is important. It’s been a while since Cagayan won three straight games,” said the 24-year-old Galliguez, who came from John Brown University in Houston.
“Without Moala (Tautuaa), it just gives us more confidence. We’re excited to have him, and we’re going to the next game with momentum.”
Don Trollano had a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds in the win, while Michael Mabulac added 12 markers.
Cagayan Valley used a 14-2 run at the start of the fourth to take a 72-62 lead and kept enough cushion against the Gems.
Kevin Ferrer, Almond Vosotros, and Mar Villahermosa still tried to ignite a comeback for Cebuana by nailing treys to cut the lead down to two, 78-76, with 22 seconds left to play.
Galliguez then missed two freebies, which opened up one last chance for the Gems, but Vosotros bungled two potential game-tying shots.
Ferrer led Cebuana with 15 points and 16 rebounds, while Norbert Torres just missed out in a double-double of his own with his 15 markers and nine boards.
Vosotros also had 15, while Villahermosa ended up with 13 points, as the Gems lost for the second straight game. (RL)
The Scores:
First Game:
Bread Story-LPU 69 – Jalalon 15, Gamboa 8, Gabayni 8, Daquioag 8, Vigil 7, Mbomiko 6, Taladua 6, Lasa 5, Corpuz 2, Baltazar 2, Elmejrab 2, Lao 0, Bulawan 0.
Tanduay Light 64 – Foronda 11, Roño 10, Cenal 7, Mandani 6, Sumang 6, Belencion 6, Ilagan 4, Ignacio 3, De Leon 3, Abrigo 2, Jumao-as 2, Banal 2, Tagarda 2.
Quarters: 20-24, 39-45, 55-52, 69-64.
Second Game:
CafeFrance 66 – Ebondo 16, Sedurifa 12, Galanza 11, Jeruta 8, Abundo 6, Cortez 4, Huertas 3, Ahanmisi 3, Habelito 2, Andrada 1, De Leon 0, Noble 0, Batino 0.
Jumbo Plastic 61 – Eguilos 11, Sabellina 8, Magat 8, Lozada 8, Cruz 7, Heruela 7, Rios 3, King 3, Rosales 2, Maiquez 2, Villamor 2, Terso 0, Petilos 0, Javier 0.
Quarters: 13-16, 32-36, 53-44, 66-61.
Third Game:
Cagayan Valley 79 – Galliguez 22, Trollano 21, Mabulac 12, Dilay 7, Flores 7, Melano 4, Salamat 3, Tayongtong 2, Austria 1, Mag-isa 0.
Cebuana Lhuillier 76 – Torres 15, Ferrer 15, Vosotros 15, Villahermosa 13, A. Mangahas 9, Enciso 3, Zamar 2, Lopez 2, Guinto 2, Sison 0, Arellano 0, J. Mangahas 0, Sarangay 0.
Quarters: 12-23, 37-44, 59-60, 79-76.
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