Erasers delete Suns win streak

MANILA, Philippines - Newcomer Erase Xfoliant shrugged off its 30-point losing debut against the powerhouse NLEX team last week and erased doubts on its capability to compete in the PBA D-League with a dominant 91-78 victory over erstwhile unbeaten Cagayan Valley at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig yesterday.

The Erasers, built around key players of NCAA semifinalist Perpetual Help, chalked up victory No. 1 in the 2012-13 Aspirants Cup on strong starts on both halves anchored on Jett Vidal, Nate Matute and Mark Mendoza.

The troika hurt Cagayan Valley the most in the third quarter, coming through with brilliant and gutsy efforts to fuel Erase Xfoliants’ breakaway.

Vidal put in 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists and one steal, Matute had 20 points, seven assists, two rebounds and one steal while Mendoza added 19 points and nine rebounds.

Terrence Romeo churned out another solid all-around game and Big Chill made it two in a row with a 74-63 win over Blackwater Sports in the second game.

Romeo, a star guard by FEU in the UAAP, logged 18 points and nine rebounds in a follow-up to his 13 markers, nine feeds and three boards in their winning debut against Air21-JRU.

Coach Aric del Rosario was elated at how they bounced back from a blowout against the Road Warriors as they walloped the Rising Suns in the first and the third quarters.

The Rising Suns fell behind by 20, 52-72, late in the third quarter, and subsequently suffered their first loss in three starts.

Coach Alvin Pua’s chargers struggled with a measly 35.3-percent shooting, negating the strong inside presence provided by big men Mark Bringas and Raymund Almazan.

Bringas collected 27 rebounds and 18 points while Almazan contributed 18 boards and 12 markers.

Vidal and Matute got the Erasers to a 27-16 first-quarter lead but Bringas and Adrian Celada led a Cagayan Valley second-quarter fightback, bringing the Rising Suns to within three, 44-47, at the half.