Games Thursday JCSGO Gym, Cubao Quezon City
12 n.n. – Bread Story-LPU vs Wangs Basketball
2 p.m. – Cebuana Lhuillier vs Café France
2 p.m. – Cagayan Valley vs Tanduay Light
Abel Galliguez came off the bench and scored 11 of his game-high 20 points in the fourth quarter to power Cagayan Valley past AMA University, 89-78, on Monday in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao, Quezon City.
The Rising Suns, who played without suspended coach Alvin Pua for the second straight game, led by as many as 11 points in the second and third quarters but needed a late explosion from Galliguez to stay unbeaten in eight games and clinch the second outright semifinal berth.
League-leader Hapee also remained unscathed in the new year by dominating Racal Motors, 70-60, in the second game for the ninth straight win.
AMA trailed 47-58, but outscored Cagayan Valley, 18-10, in a five-minute span bridging the third and fourth quarters. Marcy Arellano capped that spurt with a 3-pointer to pull the Titans within 65-68 with still 8:05 left in the fourth and made the game exciting.
Then Galliguez took over. The streak-shooting guard knocked four consecutive baskets including three 3-points shots and the Rising Suns held the Titans to just a one field goal in a two minute stretch to take the lead for good.
In contrast, the Fresh Fighters were never in trouble against the Alibaba despite playing with only nine players.
After a tied first quarter (21-21), Hapee outscored Racal Motors, 23-12, in the second for a 44-33 halftime advantage. Racal Motors didn’t get any closer than eight points in the second half.
“I felt I had a rhythm so I took more shots when I got the ball and scored more. Our mindset was to be aggressive and that’s what I did,” said Galliguez who also had two assists and two steals in 25 minutes.
The scores:
Cagayan Valley 89 – Galliguez 20, Trollano 15, Melano 10, Tautuaa 10, Salamat 8, Flores 7, Tayingtong 7, Mabulac 4, Mag-isa 2, Austria 2, Celada 2, Capacio 0.
AMA University 78 – Martinez 18, Arellano 18, Eriobu 11, Cubillo 11, Taganas 10, Balucanag 8, Dizon 2, Santiago 0, Magpantay 0, Diswe 0, Olivares 0, Rosales 0.
Quarters: 23-10; 47-38; 66-59; 89-78.
Hapee 70 – Rosario 20, Lanete 9, Amer 8, Thompson 7, Parks 6, Dela Cruz 6, Newsome 6, Long 5, Hayes 3.
Racal Motors 60 – Ortuoste 22, Ruaya 10, Jamito 8, Gil 7, Viernes 4, Canta 4, Ibay 3, Gabawan 2, Mercader 0, Di Gregorio 0, Ambuladto 0, Publico 0.
Quarters: 21-21; 44-33; 60-48; 70-60.