Games Thursday (Ynares Arena, Pasig City)
12 nn –Tanduay Light vs Bread Story-LPU
2 p.m. –Café France vs Jumbo Plastic
4 p.m. – Cebuana Lhuillier vs Cagayan Valley
Hapee used a strong first quarter to dispatch MJM Buiders, 79-66, on Monday for its third straight win in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City.
In the other games, Michael Miranda scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to help Wangs Basketball defeat Racal Motors, 80-72 while AMA University’s stifling defense held MP Hotel to just four field goals in the fourth quarter for an 85-74 come-from-behind victory.
It was practically a walk in the park for the Fresh Fighters, who led by as much as 20 points before cold shooting early the fourth allowed the Builders to make the game exciting.
“This is a good test of character for the team. When things are not going right for us, I thought the guys come together and helped each other,” observed Hapee coach Ronnie Magsanoc.
Ola Adeogun scored a game-high 18 points and he and Bobby Ray Parks grabbed eight rebounds apiece as Hapee, manhandled MJM Builders off the glass, 50-25.
The 6-foot-9 Adeogun asserted his might in the first quarter, hitting 4 of 5 shots as the Fresh Fights took a 21-10 lead at the end the period.
A free throw by Adeogun with under six minutes left in the third gave Hapee its biggest margin at 50-30.
Troy Rosario came off the bench and finished with 14 points for Hapee, which got a big contribution from its bench. Baser Amer had 11 and Parks added 10 and six assists.