Games Thursday Ynares Arena (Pasig City)
12p.m. – Racal Motors vs Tanduay Light
2 p.m. – Café France vs Bread Story-LPU
Manila, Philippines – The Cagayan Valley Rising Suns overcame a slow start to beat the Jumbo Plastic Giants, 82-74, on Monday and keep their pristine record halfway through the elimination round of the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Marikina Sports Cmplex.
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 going.
It was the sixth straight win for the Rising Suns, who finished the game without coach Alvin Pua, ejected at the start of the second half for contacting a game official.
“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 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.
The scores:
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.
Hapee 70 – Parks 20, Lanete 14, Dela Cruz 8, Rosario 7, Van Opstal 6, Amer 6, Long 5, Adeogun 4, Thompson 0, Newsome 0, Hayes 0
CafeFrance 55 – Ahanmisi 13, Noble 10, Abundo 10, De Leon 6, Huertas 4, Sedurifa 4, Ebondo 3, Batino 3, Andada 2, Cortez 0, Galanza 0
Quarters: 19-16; 35-36; 55-44; 70-55