Games Thursday Ynares Arena,
1 p.m. – Café France vs MP Hotel
3 p.m. – Hapee vs Kera Mix
Cebuana Lhuillier bucked a slow start behind Jackson Corpuz and Moala Tautuaa and blitzed past Tanduay Light, 81-70, yesterday to remain unbeaten in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at The Arena in San Juan.
Corpuz scored 13 of his 18 points in the third quarter while Tautuaa finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals in yet another all-around performance to stretch the Gems’ perfect run to four games.
The Gems, who were coming off an 18-day layoff, won despite allowing the Rhum Masters to take a 19-14 first quarter lead.
“Yan ang mahirap (sa long break). Nakita mo naman sa first two quarters off kami. We have to be consistent, di pwede umasa sa talent, pero dapat andun ang team effort,” said Cebuana coach Boycie Zamar.
It was Cebuana’s first match since March 26 when the Gems beat the Keramix Mixers, 95-88.
In the first game, Cagayan Valley-Gerry’s Grill found a way to protect a huge lead on its way to crushing Jumbo Plastic, 73-57.
Abel Galliguez made four triples to finish with 14 points while former Arellano University standout Andrian Celada added 13 points, six rebounds and two steals to help the Rising Suns forge a tie for fourth to seventh places with the Linoleum Giants, AMA University Titans and the Mixers at 2-2.
Galliguez and Celada combined for 17 points in the first quarter before the trio of Marion Magat, Jason Melano and Aly Austria made sure that there won’t be a repeat of their bitter defeats to the MP Hotel-Letran Warriors and CaféFrance Bakers.
In both games, Cagayan blew a pair of double-digit leads. (Christian Jacinto)