D-LEAGUE: LEADERS KEEP CLEAN SLATES
The Cagayan Valley Rising Suns overcame a slow start to beat the Jumbo Plastic Giants, 82-74, on Monday and kept their pristine record halfway through the elimination round of the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Marikina Sports Complex.
Cagayan picked up momentum in the second quarter with Eric Salamat and Abel Galliguez taking charge as Moala Tautuaa, struggling to establish his rhythm, went in and out of the game in the early goings.
It was the sixth straight win for the Rising Suns, who finished the game without coach Alvin Pua, who was ejected at the start of the second half for contacting a game official.
League-leader Hapee also stayed unbeaten as it dismantled Café France, 70-55, in the third game.
Bobby Ray Parks collected a game-high 20 points and Garvo Lanete added 14 for the Fresh Fighters, who encountered stiff challenge in the first half before pulling away in the third quarter en route to a league-best 7-0 record.
“I thought our defense made the difference. The guys are just too willing to play defense against Café’s key players,” said Hapee coach Ronnie Magsanoc.
Maverick Ahanmisi scored 13 points while Alvin Abundo and Michael Noble had 10 apiece for the Bakers, who led 36-35 at the half but struggled with their offense in the second half. Café France fell to 5-2 (win-loss) record.
“I just had one of those bad days. I started off really slow. I was looking to pass more at the beginning and I knew the double team was coming because I was bigger but I kinda struggled,” offered Tautuaa, who scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, most of them on dunks and alley-oops, to finish with a game-high 16 points.
“We pulled it off together in the second half,” added Tautuaa, who looked at the ejection of Pua as a “blessing and a curse”. “He showed our character and fights for us. His ejection just fired us up in the second half.”
Galliguez came off the bench and dished out another standout performance, finishing with 14 points that went with his five assists and three steals. Randy Dilay added 11 for the Rising Suns, who outscored the Giants, 23-12, in the second quarter and seized control.
In the hope toadd fire power to their depleted lineup, the Giants recruited Miguel Tiongson and 3-point shooter Philip Paniamogan but neither of the two clicked.
Tiongson and Paniamogan managed just eight points apiece.
Joseph Terso scored 14 points but he was the only Giant in double figure. Jumbo Plastic shot a paltry 33 percent from the field (24 of 73) and committed 28 turnovers that netted the Rising Suns 27 points.
Jumbo Plastic appeared up for the challenge when it took an 18-14 lead after one quarter and a 23-19 edge at the start of the second.
But the Giants suddenly wilted when the Rising Suns started to hit their shots and got physical. The former picked up their third loss in eight games, endangering their bid to finish third or fourth and earn a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
In the first game, Norberto Torres tallied 21 points and Kevin Ferrer had 12 points and 11 rebounds to lead Cebuana Lhuillier past AMA University, 73-55.
After a close first quarter and down by one early in the second, the Gems went on a 14-3 run to take control. Torres had six points in that spurt that Mar Villahermosa ended with a 3-point shot for a 36-26 lead. Cebuana never trailed again after that. (DBC)
The scores:
First Game
Cebuana Lhuillier 73 – Torres 21, Ferrer 12, Villahermosa 11, Zamar 7, Vosotros 7, Bautista 5, Lopez 4, A. Mangahas 3, Sarangay 2, Guinto 1, Banal 0, Enciso 0, J. Mangahas 0.
AMA University 55 – Eriobu 14, Cubillo 11, Olivares 9, Martinez 7, Taganas 5, Balucanag 4, Rosales 3, Sabangan 2, Magpantay 0, Dizon 0, Macarabas 0.
Quarters: 21-20; 36-30; 53-45; 73-55.
Second Game
Cagayan Valley 82 – Tautuaa 16, Galliguez 14, Dilay 11, Trollano 8, Salamat 8, Celada 8, Mabulac 6, Austria 5, Flores 4, Melano 2, Mag-isa 0, Capacio 0.
Jumbo PLastic 74 — Terso 14, Rosales 9, Eguilos 8, Paniamogan8, Javier 8, Tiongson 8, Cruz 6, Magat 4, Villamor 4, Rios 3, Petillos 2, Maiquez 0.
Quarters: 14-18; 37-30; 58-45; 82-74.
Third Game
Hapee 70 – Parks 20, Lanete 14, Dela Cruz 8, Rosario 7, Amer 6, Opstal 6, Long 5, Adeogun 4, Thompson 0, Newsome 0, Hayes 0.
Café France 55 – Ahanmisi 13, Abundo 10, Noble 10, De Leon 6, Huertas 4, Sedurifa 4, Batino 3, ebondo 3, Andrada 2, Galanza 0, Cortez 0.
Quarters:19-16; 35-36; 55-44; 70-55
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