Games Thursday (Ynares Arena)
1 p.m. – Tanduay Light vs Liver Marin
3 p.m. – Kera Mix vs AMA University
Jam Cortez and Samboy De Leon scored 27 points apiece and help CaféFrance pull away in the third quarter for a 92-75 rout of AMA University on Monday in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Arena.
The Bakers ripped a close game open by outscoring the Titans, 23-10, in the third quarter. Cortez and De Leon combined for 15 points as the Bakers led by as many as 20 points.
Their fifth straight win against a lone loss to league leader Cebuana Lhuillier to start their campaign, enhance the Bakers’ bid to clinch one of two outright semifinal berth.
“That issue will have some clarity after our game against Hapee next week. It’s a rematch of our semifinal showdown last conference. So far, everybody is doing well,” said Café France coach Egay Macaraya.
Joseph Sedurifa scored 12 points and Alfred Batino grabbed 10 rebounds as CaféFrance dominated the boards, 49-37.
CaféFrance had shaky 43-38 lead at the break but wore down the Titans in the third with their up tempo game every time it had an opportunity to run.
“That was really the game plan. I thought our up tempo game took its toll on Jay-R [Taganas]. I also thought my bigs did a good job tiring him out. He wasn’t as effective and got into foul trouble in the third. Taking away Jay-R’s game really hurt AMA,” Macaraya observed.
Taganas still finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds for his fourth double double in the conference but couldn’t prevent AMA from picking up its third straight loss and fourth in six games. The Titans dropped to seventh spot and hurt their playoff bid.
Jeremy King paced the Titans with 14 points.
AMA made five 3-points shots in the first half including one from Jaycee Asuncion late in the second quarter that tied the count at 38-38.
Two free throws by Cortez in the ensuing play put Café France ahead to stay and led to a 5-0 run to close the quarter.
Back-to-back 3-point shots by Sedurifa gave the Bakers its biggest lead at 66-46 late in the third.
But the Titans refused to wilt. They opened the fourth with a 13-2 run and pulled within 61-68 on a driving layup by James Martinez.
The Titans never got any closer as Alvin Abundo made a 3-pointer and the Bakers scored 12 of the next 15 points for an 80-64 lead with four minutes left.
Scores:
CaféFrance 92 – De Leon 27, Cortez 27, Sedurifa 12, Ebondo 9, Abundo 5, Batino 4, Jeruta 2, Celso 2, Ahanmisi 2, Andrada 2, Galanza 0, Miranda 0, Noble 0.
AMA 75 – King 18, Martinez 14, Taganas 14, Martinez 14, Maiquez 11, Camasura 6, Asuncion 6, Jordan 2, Angeles 2, Sison 0, Diswe 0, Calma 0, Rosales 0.
Quarters: 18-20; 43-38; 66-48; 92-75