PBA D-League Playoff Chase Resumes January 3

The chase for playoff berths in the season-opening Philippine Basketball Association D-League Aspirants' Cup resumes in earnest on January 3 with nine of the eleven competing teams still in contention for post-elims berths.

Three of the teams - pace-setting Cebuana Lhuillier (8-1), Freego Jeans (6-2) and Big Chill (6-3) are sure to make it while NLEX (5-1) is also practically there.

The Gems and Road Warriors, finalists in the inuagural D-League tournament earlier this year, collide on January 12 with possibly one outright semifinals berth on the line with the loser probably battling the Jeans Makers for the other outright spot if current form holds up.

The Superchargers hope to lock on to the second twice-to-beat quarterfinals edge but if Blackwater (3-3), RnW Pacific Pipes (4-3) or Boracay Rum (4-4) catch fire in January, Big Chill may have to go through a playoff to get that lofty placing.

PC Gilmore (2-5) and CafeFrance (2-5) both have an outside shot of making the Top Six but may need to win their remaining games. DUB Unlimited (1-7) and Cobra Energy Drink (1-8) are out of contention but could play the spoilers' role in the final six playdates.

Cebuana Lhuillier has been sizzling behind the heady performances of forward Vic Manuel and guards Terrence Romeo and ex-pro Jai Reyes and hope to get Kevin Alas back for the stretch run after the Letran guard spent several weeks in the US on a training trip.

NLEX has the core of the SEA Games gold medal winning team in its fold, with six members of the Sinag Pilipinas team in its fold as well as San Sebastian's frontline but the loss of sniper Roland Pascual (ACL) means Garvo Lanete and Chris Ellis have to step up their games alongside RR Garcia, Calvin Abueva and Clifford Hodge.

Freego Jeans also lost a vital cog when back-up guard Jer4ick Canada opted to turn pro overseas, leaving a huge gap behind star playmaker Lester Alvarez in the team's rotation though they finally have standout wingman Alex Nuyles healthy again to join Eric Camson, Janus Lozada and Bacon Austria.

Dark horse Big Chill needs consistent performances from Fil-Ams Alex Mallari, Keith Jensen and Elliot Tan as well as local workhorses Raffy Peyes, Jopher Custodio and Jessie Collado to go further in the tournament.(pr)

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

Maynilad pounces on Cafe France, 106-74

SPORTS DESK
PBA NEWS RELEASE
April 5, 2011

PBA D-League Foundation Cup
Team Standings

               Group A

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


              Group B
                                            W     L

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

Games Thursday
(EAC gym)
2 p.m. – Freego Jeans vs Black Water
4 p.m. – Junior Powerade vs Cebuana Lhuillier


Behind a stinging defense and balance offensive, Maynilad pounced on
Café France for a lopsided 106-74 victory Tuesday for its second
straight win in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Lyceum of the
Philippines University gym.

The Water Dragons needed just 20 minutes to put away their rival as
Garbo Lanete scored 12 of his team-high 21 points in the second
quarter.  Jose Lim added 19 and David Marcelo had 10, nine rebounds
and three blocks for Maynilad, which improved to 2-1 in Group B.

In contrast, PC Gilmore held off a fourth quarter assault by Pharex
for a 99-97 victory and earned a piece of the lead in Group A.

Allan Mangahas scored 20 points and Carlo Lastimosa added 15,
including three clutch free throws in the closing seconds for PC
Gilmore, which pull abreast with idle NLEX and Pharex, which had its
two-game winning streak snapped.

 “The guys responded well and we gave them different looks with our
defense. I thought our trap did well for us,” said Maynilad coach
Frankie Lim, banished from the court with four minutes to play for
physically contacting a player.

Lim agreed though that his team’s acid test is forthcoming as Maynilad
close out its elimination round against FCA (April 12), Powerade
(April 19) and Cebuana Lhuillier (April 26).

“FCA and Cebuana, they are the strongest teams in our group. But if we
manage to win against them we’ll be assured of a spot in the second
round of the playoffs,” Lim noted.

Non Mabayo scored 21 points and Leeward Lobaton added 13 for the
Scorpions, who couldn’t keep pace due to poor shooting and their
inability to defend well. Café France made just 30 of 88 attempts (34
percent) and picked up their third straight loss in as many games.

Jake Pascual scored all his eight points in the opening quarter to get
Maynilad’s offense going and the Water Dragons held the Scorpions to 5
of 23 shooting for 28-13 lead.

By halftime, Maynilad’s lead had swelled to 57-37 and there was no way
Café France could turn the game around when the Water Dragons posted a
31-point lead at the end of the third.

The physicality of the match take took its toll late in the fourth
when Café France’s guard Ildefonso Bulangis and Maynilad’s Jose Lim
traded barbs moments after a looseball scramble.

Lim, the Maynilad coach, pacified the two but he shove Bulangis a
little bit too hard drawing him a flagrant foul penalty 2 and his
eventual ejection.

PC Gilmore controlled the game for most part by disrupting Pharex’s
momentum with their defensive hassle and scrappiness.

But the Bidang Generix gained some momentum in the fourth and pulled
threateningly close at 97-98 on a 3-pointer by James Mangahas with
17.8 seconds to go.

Lastimosa split his free throws a second later to make it a two-point
game before Pharex missed on two potential game-winner from the
3-point range as time expired.

“We lost our discipline in the end game. That’s natural for a young
team. But at least we find ways to hung on,” said PC Gilmore coach
Richard del Rosario.



The scores:
First Game

Maynilad 106 – Lanete 21, Lim 19, Marcelo 10, Daniels 10, J. Pascual
8, Diputado 8, Dela Rosa 6, Villahermosa 6, Caram 6, Sorela 6, Semerad
4, K. Pascual 2, Catolico 0.

Café France 74 – Mabayo 21, Lobaton 13, Bulangis 7, Almario 7,
Pofereda 6, Delfinado 4, Banas 4, Gallardo 3, Magbitang 3, Babad 2,
Rublico 2, Mejos 2, Garcia 0.

Quarters: 28-13; 57-37; 82-51; 106-74

Second Game

PC Gilmore 99 – Mangahas 20, Lastimosa 15, Sarangay 11, Magbanua 11,
Cortez 10, Acosta 10, Agas 5, Sinco 4, Vidal 4, Sorongon 4, Parala 3,
Dysam 2, Dela Paz 0.

Pharex 97 – Asoro 14, Deutchman 14, Mangahas 13, Morial 11, Aguilar
11, Adolfo 10, Losantes 6, Taylor 5, Tecson 5, Montilla 4, Banal 2,
Viernes 2.

Quarters: 24-17; 49-35; 78-61; 99-97.PR

Pharex overcomes early deficit on way to victory against Black Water, Cebuana Lhuillier defuses tough challenge from Cafe France

Marlon Adolfo scored 25 points, Jayson Deutchman added 16 and 10
rebounds and Pharex overcome a big early deficit on the way to 100-90
victory against Black Water Thursday in the PBA D-League Foundation
Cup at The Arena in San Juan.

Raymond Aguilar collected 14 points and Chester Taylor and Jeff
Viernes each scored 10 points for the Batang Generix, who turned the
game by scoring 11 of the first 15 points in the second quarter.
Viernes was banished off the court with five minutes left in the game
after hitting Rocky Acidre with a wayward elbow in the head.

In the other game, Cebuana Lhuillier lost star guard Benedict
Fernandez early in the third quarter but got solid performances from
Alain Maliksi, Marvis Hayes anad James Sena to defuse a tough
challenge from Café France for an 83-62 victory in Group B.

The Gems trailed by one points after 10 minutes, but held café France
to 2 of 25 shooting in the second quarter to seize control. Then
Maliksi (16 points) and Sena (12 points, 10 rebounds) took charge in
the third as Cebuana Lhuillier ripped the game open. Hayes also scored
12 points and grabbed 12 boards.

“It’s tough to play collegiate players because they have a system. But
I thought our defense was good and we made good shot selection in the
second half,” said Cebuana Lhuillier coach Luigi Trillo, the youngest
coach in the league at 35.

Fernandez, a free agent, managed just five points before being thrown
out of the game with eight minutes left in the third for plan ting his
foot on the landing spot of a shooting player.

Leeward Labaton and Jewel Ponferada each scored 13 points for Café France.

“Our defense is kind of soft early. But we’re lucky we were able to
turn it around,” said Pharex coach Gian Carlo Tan.

Tan said team was formed only two weeks before the tournament and
pointed to its lack of chemistry as also a factor to their poor start.

“The team has not really experience a time to bond and know each
other. Good thing we defense hold and enable us to win. I hope we jell
sooner than later,” Tan said.

Rocky Acidre scored 22 points and Gio Ciriacruz had 21 for Black Water
which allowed a big, early lead to dissipate. To make matters worse,
the Elites committed 20 tunrovers.

Mentored by Leo Isaac, Black Water got their offense going early and
roared to a 17-5 lead.

But Pharex, which tied NLEX and RnW Pacific Pipes for lead in Group A,
rallied and outscored Black Water, 15-3, the rest of the period to tie
at 20-20.

With the Bidang Generix frontline of Adolfo, Duetchman and Aguilar
taking charge in the third, Pharex opened a 31-25 lead and never
trailed again.


The scores
First Game

Pharex 100 – Adolfo 25, Deutchman 16, Aguilar 14, Viernes 10, Taylor
10, Banal 8, Mangahas 5, Asoro 4, Morial 4, Tecson 3, Montilla 1.

Black Water 90 – Acidre 22, Ciriacruz 21, Celeda 12, Zulueta 12, Mazo
10, Belorio 8, Lapuz 2, J.Del Rosario 2, Del Rosario 1, Zaret 0.

Quarters: 20-20; 48-44; 74-67; 100-90

Second Game
Cebuana Lhuillier 83 – Maliksi 16, Hayes 12, Sena 12, Alas 9, Eunon 8,
Nabong 6, Mepana 5, Fernandez 5, Semira 5, Mandani 2, Lee 2, Llagas
12, bagatsing 0, Canta 0.

Café France 62 – Ponferada 13, Lobaton 13, Bulangis 12, Rublico 8,
Banas 5, Gallardo 4, Magbiutang 3, Mejos 3, Almario 1, Babad 0,
Graebel 0, Garcia 0.

Quarters: 16-17; 33-29; 42-61; 83-62 (pr)