Games Today Trinity University of Asia Gym
12p.m – Cebuana Lhuillier vs Cagayan Valley
2p.m. – Blackwater Sports vs Hog’s Breath Cafe
Manila, Philippines – Don Trollano and Andrian Celada hit clutch 3-point shots in the closing minutes as Cagayan Valley weathered repeated comebacks by Banco de Oro and defeated Bulldogs, 101-92, on Monday in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the JCSGO gym.
Trollano knocked down his third 3 of the day with 3:03 remaining before Celeda hit another one from downtown 30 seconds to effectively put the Bulldogs away. The Rising Suns closed out the fourth quarter with a 10-2 run.
Mark Bringas scored 21 points and pulled down 14 rebounds. Celeda had 20, Trollano added 16, Jason Melano went 3 for 3 from 3-point range and finished with 15 for the Rising Suns, who secured their place in the quarterfinals.
Cagayan Valley improved to 8-3 (win-loss) record and tied idle Hog’s Breath Café at fourth place.
Only six teams in the 14-team field will advance to the playoffs after single round eliminations. The top two teams will clinch outright semifinal berths while the next four teams will play in the quarter finals with the third and fourth seed teams earning twice-to-beat advantage.
It was the first game for the Rising Suns in more than a month since their 89-75 loss to Big Chill last Dec 12. But the long break didn’t seem to affect their rhythm.
The Bulldogs made the game exciting when Jethroy Rosario and Robin Rono hit successive threes to pull Banco de Oro within 90-91 with 3:23 to play.
But as they did all game, the Risings Suns would knock down timely threes every time the Bulldogs threaten to take the lead.
Cagayan Valley shot 14 of 33 attempts from the trifecta zone. Rosario led all scorers with 24 points. He also grabbed 13 rebounds.
Glenn Khobuntin also had a double-double with 18 and 15 rebounds as the Bulldogs dominated the glass, 46-43.
Bobby Ray Parks scored 15 points and had four assists while Rono added 12 for Banco de Oro (2-8), which welcomed the return of head coach Eric Almirano after missing the last three games.
The scores:
Cagayan Valley 101 –Mark Bringas 21, Celada 20, Trollano 16, Melano 15, Collado 10, Mabulac 8, Cruz 7, Pinto 4, Mercader 0, Jamito 0, Ighalo 0, Parala 0, Foronda 0.
Banco de Oro 92 – Rosario 24, Khobuntin 18, Parks 15, Rono 12, Labing-isa 9, Villamor 7, Javelona 4, Neypes 2, Perez 1, Celda 0.
Quarters:20-22; 54-46; 78-72; 101-92.