Cafe France outlasts Jr.Powerade Tigers, 85-83

PBA D-League Foundation Cup


Team Standings



Group A



W L

NLEX 4 1

PC Gilmore 4 2

Black Water 3 3

Freego Jeans 2 3

RnW Pacific Pipes 2 4

Pharex 2 4



Group B

W L

Cobra Energy Drink 4 1

Cebuana Lhuillier 3 1

Max! Bond Super Glue 3 1

FCA 3 2

Maynilad 3 3

Junior Powerade 1 5

Café France 1 5





Games Tuesday (Meralco Gym)

2:00 pm - Max! Bond Super Glue vs. FCA Cultivators

4:00 pm - Freego Jeans vs. NLEX Road Warriors







In a game that meant little and a lot at the same time, CafeFrance

outlasted Jr. Powerade Tigers, 85-83. on Thursday in the PBA D-League

Foundation Cup at the Trinity University of Asia Gym in Quezon City.



The breakthrough win came on the sixth try for CafeFrance, which was

important according to coach Mon Jose coming as it did against a team

they will play against once more on May 24, this time with a

first-round berth on the line. Jr. Powerade fell to a similar 1-5 card

at the end of the classification round.



"Malaking bagay psychologically para sa team na ma-realize nilang kaya

nilang manalo sa D-League," said the mentor, who also handles the

Centro Escolar University team in the NAASCU from whom the core of the

team is drawn from. "You never know pagdating sa knockout games, baka

we're peaking at the right time."



Even before the game, both teams knew they would play each other in

the Group B knockout game prior to the first round of the playoffs

whatever happened in their match yesterday.



The Tigers held a 61-71 lead late in the third period behind the

efforts of John Smith, James Martinez, Alvin Padilla, Brian Ilad and

Magi Sison, who were all in double figures after three periods.



But CafeFrance, behind the double-double heroics of Mon Mabayo (21

points and 10 rebounds) as well as new recruit Jervin Parale, grabbed

the upperhand at 82-78 with 2:33 left.



JR Bulangis gave CafeFrance a two-point lead in the final twelve

seconds before their team's defense held Jr. Powerade with no solid

looks at the basket on its final possession.



The scores:

First Game



Café France 85 - Mabayo 21, Ponferrada 17, Babad 9, Rublico 8,

Bulangis 8, Magbitang 6, Banas 4, Parale 4,Lobaton 3, Mejos 3,

Gallardo 2, Almario 0.



Jr. Powerade 83 - Smith 16, Sison 16, Ilad 12, Martinez 11, Padilla

10, Gamboa 9, Juruena 7, Jeffries 2, Gingerich 0, Gomez 0, Maniego 0.



Quarters: 22-28, 48-51, 64-71, 85-83.PR