D-LEAGUE: RACAL SHOCKS JUMBO; AMA, CEBUANA LHUILLIER SCORE
It was a Jeff Viernes show on Monday in the 2015 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup.
Viernes’ hot shooting paced the Alibaba to a 77-66 upset of Jumbo Plastic at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao to nail their second victory in the tourney.
The St. Clare playmaker got all of his 19 points in the second half on 7-of-13 field goal shooting, to go along with four steals, as Jason Ibay contributed 16 markers in the win.
Jamil Ortuoste also had 11 points to help Racal pull itself up from the cellar and improve to 2-4.
Coach Caloy Garcia credited his wards for taking the open shots given to them by the Jumbo Plastic defense, saying, “Di ako magagalit sa kanila as long as they take those open shots. Pumasok man o magmintis, wala akong problema dun,” as Racal dropped 10 treys in the victory.
Viernes captained a 31-point onslaught in the third quarter to turn a six-point deficit at the half to a 58-50 edge after three periods, and padded the lead to as big as 16, 77-61, before holding on until the end to take the game.
Mark Cruz topscored for Jumbo Plastic with 14 points apart from hauling down seven rebounds. Joseph Terso added 12 markers.
Jaymo Eguilos also missed out on a double-double with his 10 markers and nine boards for the Giants, who fell to 4-2.
In the second game, AMA University fended off Bread Story-LPU, 97-89, to pull itself up to 0.500.
Jay-R Taganas was once again the star for the Titans with his monster statline of 15 points, 18 rebounds, and seven assists.
Joseph Eriobu topped AMA with his 19 markers and seven rebounds, as endgame heroes Philip Paniamogan and James Martinez wound up with 17 and 10 points, respectively.
After the Titans led by as big as 25 in the fourth, 81-56, the Smashing Bakers made their way back in the game and closed in on AMA, 82-73.
Louie Vigil and Jiovanni Jalalon continued to pound AMA hard as they got to as close as five, 88-93, with 52.5 ticks left to play, but Paniamogan and Martinez were steady at the charity stripe, and AMA ran away with its third victory in six outings.
“I just reminded my players about their composure,” said AMA coach Mark Herrera. “We really lack the experience. We really have to work on our defense.”
Vigil finished with 25 points, 16 in the payoff period, for Bread Story-LPU, which dropped to 2-4.
In the third game, Cebuana Lhuillier held off MJM, 87-72, to move up to 3-3 alongside AMA.
Almond Vosotros showed the way for the Gems, dropping 12 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth, to go with three assists and three steals as Cebuana broke away in the payoff period.
Norbert Torres logged a double-double with his 15 markers and 13 boards, as Kevin Ferrer finished with 11 points and eight rebounds.
Despite the win, coach Boycie Zamar still asked for his players’ maturity as they brace for the final half of the eliminations, saying, “Andun yung basketball I.Q., pero yung basketball E.Q., wala eh.”
“Kailangan talaga ng matured na players kasi D-League ito. One step lower sa PBA, so kung gusto nila makaakyat, ipakita na nila dito. Di pwedeng mag-rely sa talent lang nila kung gusto nila umakyat dun,” he said.
The Gems finally broke away in the fourth behind the hot shooting of Vosotros, who led a 9-3 run to turn a slim 61-57 lead to a 10-point spread.
Mac Belo had 17 points and eight rebounds for the M-Builders, who fell to 2-4. (RL)
The Scores:
First Game:
Racal Motors 77 – Viernes 19, Ibay 16, Ortuoste 11, Ruaya 9, Jamito 6, Gil 5, Canta 5, Gabawan 4, Saitanan 2, Mercader 0, Di Gregorio 0.
Jumbo Plastic 66 – Cruz 14, Terso 12, Eguilos 10, Villamor 9, Rios 6, Rosales 5, Maiquez 5, Magat 3, Javier 2, King 0, Colina 0.
Quarters: 12-13, 27-33, 58-50, 77-66.
Second Game:
AMA University 97 – Eriobu 19, Paniamogan 17, Taganas 15, Martinez 10, Balucanag 9, Olivares 8, Cubillo 7, Camasura 6, Sabangan 6, Jordan 0, Angeles 0.
Bread Story-LPU 89 – Vigil 25, Jalalon 18, Corpuz 12, Mbomiko 12, Gamboa 9, Bulawan 5, Gabayni 4, Lao 2, Zamora 2, Baltazar 0, Taladua 0, Elmejrab 0, Daquioag 0, Bangga 0
Quarters: 26-13, 50-39, 75-56, 97-89.
Third Game:
Cebuana Lhuillier 87 – Vosotros 26, Torres 15, Ferrer 11, Bautista 9, Lopez 8, Guinto 6, A. Mangahas 5, Enciso 2, Villahermosa 2, Arellano 2, Canlas 1, J. Mangahas 0, Sarangay 0.
MJM 72 – Belo 17, Khobuntin 15, Alolino 10, Tolomia 10, Pogoy 6, Cruz 5, Mendoza 3, Tesoro 3, Perez 2, Neypes 1, Jose 0, Alberto 0, Iñigo 0, Remulla 0.
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