MANILA, Philippines - Maynilad, with Garvo Lanete firing 22 points, pounced on Max Bond Super Glue’s slow start to score an 82-61 victory in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the FEU gym in Morayta yesterday.
Nigerian Sudan Daniel came through with 19 points and finished with seven rebounds and four blocks while Antonio Caram made six assists for the Water Dragons, who bounced back from a 70-78 loss against Cobra Energy Drink for a 1-1 card.
But the lopsided result failed to impress coach Frankie Lim.
“We’re not yet in top form,” said Lim, adding he expects his wards to be in peak form after their training in the US in May.
In the second game, Jeff Morial scattered 12 of his team-high 16 points in the second half as Pharex turned back NLEX, 79-74, to seize the solo lead in Group A with two wins.
“We we’re just fortunate. We made crucial shots on lucky bounces, grabbed important rebounds and never let down on defense,” said Pharex coach Gian Carlo Tan.
Calvin Abueva scored 17 points while Erik Salamat added 12 points for the fancied Road Warriors, who dropped to 1-1.
Built around reigning NCAA champ San Beda Red Lions, the Water Dragons shot 51 percent from the field while holding the Sumos to 21 of 74 shooting with their zone defense. Max Bond, however, lorded it over the boards, 55-39, but struggled in transition.
The debuting Sumos scored the first four points of the contest courtesy of Jeric Teng but went scoreless in the next eight minutes, enabling the Water Dragons to seize control.
Lanete teamed up with 6-foot-5 Elvin Pascual as Maynilad unloaded a 24-5 run to take charge.
Reil Cervantes of Far Eastern University led Max Bond Super Glue with 21 points while former pro Junjun Cabatu added 13 points for the Sumos, who committed 18 turnovers which the Water Deragons translated into 16 points.
A basket by Cervantes midway in the second quarter pulled Max Bond to within 25-32 but Caram completed a four-point play in Maynilad’s next possession, sparking an 8-2 run for a 42-29 lead.
The Sumos never got closer than 10 points the rest of the way.