PC Gilmore looks to extend win streak, battles co-leader NLEX

PBA D-League Foundation Cup
Team Standings

               Group A

                                           W     L
Pharex                                  2     1
NLEX                                   2     1
PC Gilmore                           2     1
Black Water                          2      1
RnW Pacific Pipes                1      2
Freego Jeans                         0       3

              Group B
                                            W     L

Cobra Energy Drink              2      0
Cebuana Lhuillier                 2      1
Maynilad                               2      1
FCA                                      1       1
Max! Bond Super Glue         1      1
Junior Powerade                    1      2
Café France                           0      3

Games Tuesday
(JCSGO gym)
2 p.m. – Maynilad vs FCA
4 p.m. – PC Gilmore vs NLEX




PC Gilmore looks to extend its winning-streak to three games in the
PBA D-League Foundation Cup when it battles co-leader NLEX on Tuesday.

The 4 p.m. duel at the JCSGO gym in Cubao, Quezon City is a huge game
for both teams with the winner assuming the sole lead in Group A. PC
Gilmore and NLEX are tied with idle Pharex and Black Water Perfume at
2-1 (win-loss) records.

Maynilad also aims for a third straight win when the Water Dragons
test the mettle of the FCA Cultivators (1-1) at 2 o’clock.

But the Water Dragons will have to do it without coach Frankie Lim,
who was fined P5,000 and suspended for one game for shoving Café
France’s Ilderfonso Bulangis late in the fourth quarter of their
106-74 romp over the Scorpions last Tuesday.

Maynilad (2-1) is currently tied with Cebuana Lhuillier at second
place behind Group B leader Cobra Energy Drink (2-0).

With its deep bench, PC Gilmore coach Richard del Rosario contends the
Road Warriors would be a tough match-up

“The challenge against NLEX is how to keep the game close,” Del
Rosario said. “They have a star-studded line-up and we can’t engage
them in a shooting contest.”

But he admitted the Wizards are coming into the game with a positive
outlook in the aftermath of their 99-97 stunning victory against
Pharex last week.

Del Rosario said the “lead” is an added motivation but would rather
not pressure his players. “We will just play hard and try to pull off
another surprise.”

Apparently, NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez believes the Wizards are
capable of doing it.

“I was watching the last game [of PC Gilmore] and I can’t find any
weakness,” Fernandez offered.

He noted that Carlo Lastimosa and Allen Mangahas are averaging 15
points a game while bigmen Mark Sorongan, Mark Acosta, Jam Cortez and
Mike Parala are playing good basketball the last two games.

“So we have to bring our defensive mentality if we want to win and
stay on top of the standings,” Fernandez said.

Meanwhile, the PBA Commissioner’s Office released yesterday the list
of players who have been fined for various offenses in the fledgling
league.

They are Maynilad’s Sudan Daniels (FFP1/P2,500), Ogie Menor of NLEX
(landing spot/ no contact/P2,500), Maynilad’s Kyle Pascual (TF/second
motion/P1,000), John Raymundo of NLEX (TF/tripping with no
contact/P1,000), Pharex’s Jonathan Banal (TF/second motion/P1,000),
Cebuana Lhuillier’s Benedict Fernandez (FFP2/landing spot/P5,000), and
Pharex’s Jeff Viernes (FFP1/P2,500).

Max! Bon’s Reil Carvantes (FFP1/ P2,500), John Meligrito of RNW
Pacific Pipes (FFP1/ P2,500), FCA’s Bert Bulawan (TF/profane/P1,000),
FCA’s Fred Gerilla (TF/profane/P1,000), FCA’s Ariel Mepana
(TF/profane/P1,000), PC Gilmore’s Eric Agas (FFP1/ P2,500) and Freego
Jeans’ Julius Colina (FFP1/P2,500).PR