Gio Ciriacruz made four free throws in the closing seconds and Black
Water Perfume rallied from a poor start and outplayed RnW Pacific
Pipes down the stretch for a 72-69 victory in Group A Thursday in the
PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Arena in San Juan.
Joshua Saret showed the way for Back Water Perfume (1-1) with 13
points and Vergel Zulueta added 12 as the Elite bounced back after
losing their opening game against Group A leader Pharex (2-0).
In Group B play, Cobra Energy Drink crushed Junior Powerade, 86-73.
With John Paul Lee, Joseph Hermosisima and Kenneth Acibar knocking
shot after shot, Cobra Energy Drink opened the third quarter with 30-4
run that ripped the game wide open.
Hermosisima, who had 20 points, ended that run with 3-pointer and a
basket effectively sealing the Ironmen’s second straight victory that
catapulted into the lead in Group B.
Lee led all scorers with 22 points on 7 of 14 shooting. He also had
four steals, three assists and eight rebounds. Acibar contributed 18
points and 11 rebounds as Cobra outrebounded Powerade, 31-23.
Alvin Padilla and John Smith had 14 points apiece for Junior Powerade
which picked up its second straight loss.
The Elite struggled with their offense early, fell behind by 13 but
stay in the game with their pressured defense until Zulueta put on a
scoring clinic in the third quarter as Black Water Perfume gained
momentum going into the fourth.
Then Ciriacruz, who managed just seven points, took over by knocking
two free throws with 43 seconds remaining that broke a tied game and
put the Elite ahead to stay. He capped his splendid effort with 12
rebounds, four assist and block.
“This is an inspiration win to my players. By now they have realized
that we can compete and win in this tournament,” said Black Water
Perfume coach Leo Isaac.
Rex Leynes led RnW Pacific Pipes with 13 points. His 3-point shot with
57 seconds left tied the count at 68-68 and had another chance to tie
game with 6.5 ticks to go but he missed the first of two free throws.
With the game tied after three quarters, Isaac turned to Jonathan
Belorio, Adrian Celada and Ciriacruz – his former players at Arellano
U -- to make sure their plays are executed to the letter.
“When it comes to end-game play kailangan may ulo. So I relied on
those players who have been under me for sometime,” Isaac said.
His gambit worked as the Elite held RnW Pacific Pipes (1-1)to only
eight points in the last seven minutes.
Celada, who had 11 points, also did a good defensive job on free agent
Jim Viray, who managed just four points in 27 minutes. Viray exploded
for 22 points in RnW Pacific Pipes opening game victory against PC
Gilmore.
RnW Pacific Pipes threatened to rip the game early when it roared to
an 18-3 advantage as Black Water Perfume went without a field goal
during a 10-minute stretch.
After Black water Perfume opened a 54-52 lead in the fourth,
RnW Pacific Pipes scored the next seven points to go up by five only
to sputtered down the stretch.
The scores:
First Game
Black Water 72 – Saret 13, Zulueta 12, Celada 11, Acidre 11, Ciriacruz
9, Belorio 9, Mazo 5, Lapuz 2, Caperal 0, Del Rosario 0.
RnW Pacific Pipes 69 – Leynes 13, Ilagan 11, Del Rio 11, Sabellina 9,
Manuel 7, Melegrito 4, Musngi 4, Viray 4, Importante 3, Lansang 3,
Cornejo 0, Delgado 0, Guillermo 0, Ynion 0.
Quarters: 13-24; 33-36; 52-42; 72-69.
Second Game
Cobra Energy Drink 86 – Lee 22, Hermosisima 20, Acibar 18, Sanga 8,
Foronda 4, Bandayang 4, Reyes 3, Riosipa 3, Baloran 2, Abaya 2.
Powerade 73 – Smith 14, Padilla 14, Jeffries 12, Martinez 10, Sison 7,
Gomez 6, Gamboa 4, Gingerich 2, Ilad 2, Wong 2, Juruena 0, Maniego 0,
Quarters: 17-16; 38-36; 72-55; 86-73.PR
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