by Jonas Terrado
Games Tuesday (Arellano gym, Manila)
12 noon – BDO vs Jumbo Plastic
2 p.m. – Boracay Rum vs Derulo Accelero
4 p.m. – Cagayan vs M. Builders
Manila, Philippines – Celedonio Trollano scored 22 points to help power Cagayan Valley to an 83-74 win over CaféFrance, at the start of the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup yesterday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The Adamson player who was selected seventh overall in the first-ever D-League Draft last month, had 17 in the second half including, eight in the payoff period as the Rising Suns survived the Bakers’ repeated rallies.
Cagayan won despite having just 10 players in uniform due to NCAA duties of Mark Cruz (Letran), Kenneth Ighalo (Mapua), Prince Caperal (Arellano), John Pinto (Arellano) and Michael Mabulac (Jose Rizal University).
“Talagang tagilid kami, buti na lang maganda ang naging execution,” said Cagayan coach Alvin Pua.
Adrian Celada scored 10 of his 20 points in the second quarter while PBA Draft hopeful Mark Bringas added 11 markers for Cagayan.
But the day belonged to Trollano, whose jumper and two free throws gave the Rising Suns a 75-68 lead with 2:43 remaining in the contest.
Former University of the Visayas mainstay Rene Saycon later made it 77-69 with 1:31 to go to kill any hopes of a late CaféFrance rally.
PBA Draft aspirants Ping Exciminiano and Eliud Poligrates scored 16 and 14 points, respectively, while Josan Nimes likewise made 14 markers for CaféFrance in a losing effort.