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

Max! Bond Super Glue battles Junior Powerade

PBA D-League Foundation Cup

Team Standings

               Group A

                                           W     L
NLEX                                   4     1
Black Water                          3      2
PC Gilmore                           3     2
Pharex                                   2      2
Freego Jeans                          1      3
RnW Pacific Pipes                1      4

              Group B
                                            W     L

Cobra Energy Drink              3      1

Cebuana Lhuillier                 3     1
Max! Bond Super Glue         2     1

FCA                                      2       1
Maynilad                               3      3
Junior Powerade                    1      3

Café France                           0      4

Games Tuesday
 (Markina Sports Complex)
2 p.m. – RnW Pacific Pipes vs Pharex
4 p.m. – Junior Powerade vs Max! Bond Super Glue



Max! Bond Super Glue will be aspiring for a first place tie in when it
battles the unpredictable Junior Powerade on Tuesday in the
classification round of the PBA D-League Foundation Cup.

The Sumos have won their last two games and hope to make it three in a
row in their 4 p.m. match-up against the Tigers at the Marikina Sports
Center in their bid to pull abreast with Cebuana Lhuillier and Cobra
Energy Drink on top of Group B with a 3-1 records.

Considering their 1-3 record and inconsistent play, the Tigers should
be an easy prey for the Sumos, whose 77-75 victory against tournament
favorite Cobra Energy Drink last April 14 has made them a potential
title contender.

But Pido Jarencio, the Max! Bond Super Glue coach, insists the Tigers
are a dangerous opponent regardless of their record.

“We can’t take [Powerade] for granted. They have a good coach and a
good system. They have players who are playing very well,” Jarencio
pointed out.

He stressed that any team in the league is capable of winning at any
given time and it’s just a matter of which side wants it more.

“I keep telling that to my players. Hopefully, we could play
consistently and work hard as a team, especially on defense,” Jarencio
said.

In Group A play, Pharex tries to rebound from disappointing
back-to-back defeats when it takes on slumping RnW Pacific Pipes at 2
p.m.

Among the early favorites, the Bidang Generix (2-2) suffered a jolting
blow in their campaign after falling in defeat against PC Gilmore,
73-77, in the closing seconds of their duel before being smothered by
Blackwater, 75-86, three weeks ago.

Observers contend it would be tough to motivate the Bidang Generix
following those frustrating setbacks, but Pharex coach Gian Carlo Tan
doesn’t subscribe to it.

He said it’s all a matter of effort and character.

“I think it’s not a question of confidence right now, but a matter of
chemistry. Staying together during difficult moments of the game and
staying true to the ideals of our team,” Tan contended.

“If we’re able to commit on the defense for 40 [minutes], we’ll give
our selves a chance to win and really that’s all we want to see from
the team.”

RnW Pacific Pipes is in a much challenging situation. After its 76-72
win against PC Gilmore on opening day, the team has lost its last four
games.

Hopefully, things will turn for the better as Rnw Pacific Pipes winds
up its classification round assignment. 

A delayed telecast of these 2 games will be aired later at 6pm

over IBC-13. PR

Junior Powerade looks forward to winning two in a row

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

Junior Powerade hopes to build on its stunning victory against Cebuana
Lhuillier as it looks forward to winning two in a row in Group B when
it battles Maynilad Tuesday in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup.

The Tigers opened their campaign in the fledgling league with
successive blowout defeats but their collective confidence,
apparently, was buoyed by their 77-73 win against the Gems on April 7,
according to Junior Powerade coach Ricky Dandan.

“However, the challenge on our part is to translate that new found
confidence to a higher level of play so we can compete with another
powerhouse team that is Maynilad,” Dandan said.

The Tigers and the Water Dragons mixed it up at 2 p.m. at the Oreta
gym in Malabon. In Group A play, RnW Pacific Pipes (1-2) battles
winless Freego Jeans (0-3) at 4 p.m.

Maynilad, coming off a 67-77 loss against FCA last week, will be
without the injured Sudan Daniels but the inclusion of Borgie Hermida
should shore up its backcourt.

The Water Dragons acquired Hermida after his PBA team Barako Bull
Energy Drink rescinded the remainder of his contract that was to
expire in July.

“We are playing minus Sudan, who is injured. But Hermida will be a
good addition. Powerade is a tall team so we have to do a better job
in winning the boards,” said Maynilad coach Frankie Lim, returning to
the sideline after serving a one game suspension last week.

Lim, however, believes execution will matters most. “So we have to
take advantage of our quickness which I think is the key,” he said.PR