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)

Cobra Energy faces Pharex on Tuesday

The most challenging match-up for Cobra Energy in the PBA D-League
Foundation Cup will also be a test to its character.

The Ironmen faces the Pharex Bidang Generix in the first round of the
knockout playoffs on Tuesday that marks the first meeting between the
two teams.

The winner of the 4 p.m. encounter at the Arena in San Juan will
advance to the quarterfinals against the PC Gilmore Wizards.

“It will be our toughest match in the tournament. It’s either we win
or we go home,” said Cobra Energy Drink coach Lawrence Chongson.

The Ironmen lost their final game in the classification round – a
70-73 decision – against Group B top-seed Cebuana Lhuillier two weeks
ago in the process, blowing their chance for an outright entry in the
quarterfinals.

Whether they could rebound from that setback to get going rests on how
the Ironmen would handle the Bidang Generix.

“Obviously, the character of our team will be put to test,” Chongson said.

The Bidang Generix are facing an even more challenging situation,
having lost their last four games. Motivating them could be very tough
for Pharex coach Gian Carlo Tan.

“I’m just hoping the work we’ve done over the last few weeks will show
against a team that is ultra dangerous with one of the game’s best
amateur player in Paul Lee,” Tan said.

While he has suggested that Lee, the Cobra Energy Drink superstar
guard, would be a marked man, Tan emphasize they can’t put their
entire focus on him.

“Cobra has plenty of capable scorers. Our defense has to be alert and
be extra determined with coming up with stops,” Tan said.

The other playoff game at 2 o’clock features RnW Pacific Pipes and FCA.

“It’s a make or break for both of us.  So we are expecting a pressure
packed game,” said RnW Pacific Pipes coach Topex Robinson.

Robinson said closing their classification round assignment on a
winning note gave his troops the confidence boost they need in the
playoffs.

In contrast, the Cultivators have lost their last game in the
classification round against Max! Bond Super Glue. PR

Cebuana Lhuillier earns top seeding

Games Thursday (The Arena)
2 p.m. – Maynilad vs Freego
4 p.m. – Blackwater vs Powerade

Allein Maliksi scored 21 points and Cebuana Lhuillier earned the top
seeding in Group B with a 73-70 victory against Cobra Energy Drink on
Tuesday in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the San Juan Gym.

The Gems finished with a 5-1 (win-loss) record at the close of the
classification round and earned an outright passage in the
quarterfinals along with idle Max! Bond Super Glue.

Cobra Energy Drink finished tied with Max! Bond Super Glue on 4-2
records and was were relegated as no. 3 seed because of the winner
over the other rule.

The Gems turned the game around in the third quarter after a sloppy
first half, outscoring the Ironmen, 27-18.

“Kahit no-bearing ang laro hindi pwede mag-relax. Dahil playoffs na,
you can’t be out of shape. You need to play hard and stay energized,”
said deputy coach Bong Hawkins.

Hawkins called the shots for the Gems in the absence of coach Luigi
Trillo, who served his one game suspension.

In the other game, Powerade eliminated Café France with a 77-65
victory in their knockout match to clinch the last playoff berth in
Group B.

The Junior Tigers blew a 13-point lead late in the third quarter but
held off a spirited comeback by the Scorpions in the fourth with a
13-1 run.

Alvin Padilla scored all his 14 points in the fourth including eight
in that telling run that practically put the Scorpions away.

Cobra Energy Drink led 37-32 at halftime but the Gems picked up their
offensive rhythm in the third. They made 52 percent of their shots (12
of 23) while their defense held the Ironemen to 6 of 14 shooting.

Cebuana Lhuillier trailed 47-54 with four minutes to play in the third
before closing the period with a 12-1 run for a 59-55 lead entering
the fourth.

Paul Sanga scattered 27 points and Paul Lee added 11 for the Ironmen,
committed 19 turnovers that netted the Gems 19 points.

The Scores:
First Game

Cebuana Lhuillier 73 – Maliksi 21, Sena 11, Hayes 9, Fernandez
8,Mandani 7, Llagas 6, Semira 3, Elinon 3, Lee 2, Nabong 2, Alas 1,
Canta 0, Bagatsing 0.

Cobra Energy Drink 70 – Sanga 27, lee 18, Acibar 10, Baloran 5,
Bandaying 5, Eguillos 3, Rosopa 2, Foronda 0, Reyes 0, Hermosisima 0,
Abaya 0.

Quarters: 13-17; 32-37; 59-55; 73-70

Second Game

Powerade 77 – Padilla 14, Jeffries 12, Smith 11, Ilad 9, Gamboa 8,
Gomnez 7, Martinez 7, Sison 4, Juruena 3, Maniego 2, Gingrich 0, Wong
0.

Café France 65 – mabayo 19, Bulangis 12, Gallardo 9, Poferada 8, Babad
5, Parale 3, Garcia 3, Magbitang 2, Lobaton 2, Rublico 2, Banas 0,
Almario 0, Mejos 0.

Quarters: 25-25; 35-26; 53-49; 77-64. PR

Blackwater, Max! Bond Super Glue 77 score separate wins

April 14, 2011

PBA D-League Foundation Cup
Team Standings

               Group A

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

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

Games Tuesday
 (Oreta gym, Malabon)
2 p.m. – Maynilad  vs Junior Powerade
4 p.m. – RnW Pacific Pipes vs Freego Jeans



Andrian Celeda scored 27 points and the Blackwater Elite rolled to
their third consecutive win with a vengeful 86-75 romp over Pharex
Thursday in the classification round of the PBA D-League Foundation
Cup at the Lyceum of The Philippines University gym.

With their 2-3 zone holding Pharex to 37 percent shooting (7 of 19) in
the third quarter, the Elite seized control of the match and gained a
first place tie with idle NLEX in Group A with 3-1 marks.

Rudy Lingganay scored on a hard drive with three seconds remaining to
power Max! Bond Super Glue to a stunning 77-75 win over Cobra Energy
Drink and into a first place tie in Group B.

Ex-pro Junjun Cabatu scored 19 points and Reil Cervantes added 13 for
the Sumos, who outplayed the Iron Men in the second half.

“Marami pa dapat i-improve ang team. Pero naroon na yung camaraderie
and yung team effort,” said Max! Bond Super Glue coach Pido Jarencio.

Cobra energy Drink star Paul Lee led all scorers with 23 points and
his basket with 6.8 seconds to play tied the game at 75-75.

The Iron Men, who picked up their first loss in three games, is now
joined by Max! Bond Super Glue, Cebuana Lhuillier and FCA on top of
Group
“We have two goals going into the game. First, we want to get back at
Pharex and second, we want to keep our streak going. I’m happy we
achieved both,” said Blackwater coach Leo Isaac.

“I thought the players showed a high level of confidence and they
believe in one another. I thought that was the key.”

Pharex opened the third quarter with a 46-42 lead before Gio Ciriacruz
knocked a 3-pointer as Blackwater scored the next 19 points to take
the lead for good. Another 3 by Ciriacruz gave the Elite their biggest
lead of the game at 66-50 late in the period.

Rocky Acidre scored 14 points and had seven rebounds, Ian Mazo added
13 points and Jonathan Belorio had 10 boards for Blackwater which
outrebounded Pharex, 49-41.

The win also put the Elite in the hunt for an outright spot in the
second round of the playoffs but Isaac said they’re taking it one game
at a time.

“Right now that’s not a priority. But if we will have the opportunity,
we’ll take it,” he said.

Jeff Morial and Raymond Aguilar each scored 15 points for Pharex,
which fell to 2-2 (win-loss) record after their second disappointing
loss.

Back-to-back 3-pointers by Morial pulled the Bidang Generix to 69-76
with five minutes to play but Gerald Lapuz split his free throws and
Mazo added three more to bring the lead back to double digit.


The Scores:

First Game

Blackwater 86 – Celeda 27, Acidre 14, Mazo 13, Zulueta 9, Del Rosario
8, Ciriacruz 8, Belorio 6, Lapuz 1, Ihalas 0, Saret 0.

Pharex 75 – Morial 15, Aguilar 15, Losentes 9, Tecson  7, Adolfo 6,
Taylor 6, Banal 5, Asoro 4, Mangahas 4, Viernes 3, Deutchman 1,
Cabonse 0.

Quarters: 20-18; 40-40; 66-57; 86-75

Second Game

Max! Bond Super Glue 77 – Cabatu 19, Cervantes 13, Lingganay 11,
Bautista 10, Fortuna 9, Navarro 7, Teng 3, Cuan 3, Benitez 2, Hugnatan
0, Afuang 0.

Cobra Energy Drink 75 – Lee 23, Acibar 18, Sanga 9, Boloran 6, Foronda
4, Reyes 4, Eguilos 4, Hermosisima 4, Bandaying 2, Abaya 1.

Quarters: 13-20; 40-34; 53-51; 77-75.PR