Elite slow down Wheelers, gain D-League lead

MANILA, Philippines - Isaiah Ciriacruz scored 17 points and led a third quarter breakaway as Blackwater routed DUB Unlimited, 78-62, yesterday for its second straight victory in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the San Juan gym.

With Ciriacruz on the firing end, the Elite outscored the Wheelers in the third, 26-15, breaking away from a close 32-27 contest en route to the runaway win.

The Elite actually groped for form in the second period, hitting just three of 19 attempts but they made up for the scoring slack with pressure defense that also limited their rivals to five baskets out of 18 tries.

Big Chill opened its campaign with an 82-72 victory Cobra Energy Drink in the other game.

Allex Mallari scored 15 points and Jewel Ponferrada had 14 for the Superchargers, who led by as many as 14 points at halftime but wavered down the stretch.

After Jeric Fortuna scored on an offensive rebound, Ciriacruz, who went four-of-four from the perimeter in the third, teamed up with Mark Bringas and Cark Bautista to complete the big third quarter run.

Fortuna scored 14 points, Bringas had 12 and Bautista added 10 for the Elite, who had 10 of 12 players scoring.

The scores:

First Game

Blackwater 78 – I. Ciriacruz 17, Fortuna 14, Bringas 12, Bautista 10, Marata 7, Pascual 5, Acidre 4, G. Ciriacruz 4, Afuang 3, Villanueva 2, Doligon 0, Tan 0.

DUB Unlimited 62 – Aguilar 16, Teng 14, Wong 6, Bolos 5, Bustos 5, Hugnatan 4, Gamalinda 4, Leynes 3, Maniego 3, Melegrito 2, Zamar 0, Tapang 0.

Quarterscores: 21-14; 32-27; 58-42; 78-62

Second Game

Big Chill 82 – Mallari 15, Ponferrada 14, Dizon 11, Glorioso 9, Tan 9, Reyes 8, Mangahas 7, Collado 4, Maconicido 3, Morillo 2, Santos 0.

Cobra 76 – Nimes 20, Cubo 11, Cortes 10, Zablan 9, Enguio 6, Steven 5, Casajeros 4, Santos 4, Belorio 3, Noble 0, Tagarda 0, Sumido 0.

Quarterscores: 25-19; 44-30; 60-54; 82-76