Rising Suns, Bakers survive rivals fightbacks

MANILA, Philippines -  Cagayan Valley and Café France squandered big leads but toughened up in the clutch to frustrate Bread Story-LPU and Racal Motors, respectively, and gain a share of the lead with Jumbo Plastic in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at the Ynares Arena in Pasig yesterday.

The Rising Suns raced to double-digit leads in the first three quarters but needed to hang tough in the end to repulse a charging Bread Story-LPU side, 97-94, and notch their second straight win.

The Bakers matched that card with a 67-56 victory over the Racal Motors side where they nearly blew a 20-point lead before regrouping down the stretch.

Hapee held Tanduay to just six points in the first quarter and went on to post a runaway 73-53 rout to join three others in the lead with two straight wins.

Garvo Lanete, Ola Adeogun and Bobby Ray Parks churned out double-digit outputs as the star-studded Hapee side rolled past a Tanduay side which played without coach Lawrence Chongson, who was suspended for one game and fined P150,000 by PBA commissioner Chito Salud for making remarks damaging to the league and its member clubs.

Lanete topscored with 16 points while Adeogun and Parks added 13 and 12 points, respectively, as Hapee posted a 13-point lead after 10 minutes and never looked back.

Michael Mabulac finished with 24 points and nine rebounds while Alex Austria added 13 points and 10 assists for the Rising Suns, who blew an 18-point lead late in the third quarter.

Cagayan dominated the first half and appeared headed for a cruise as Bread Story struggled with its shooting against the Rising Suns’ zone press.

“Our defense was solid in the first half but we have the tendency to relax and play individually in the fourth,” said Mabulac.

Cagayan Valley drew 19 points from Jason Melano while Don Trollano and Gwayne Capacio added 12 markers apiece.

Bread Story trailed 62-73 at the end of the third quarter but outscored the Rising Suns, 32-24, in the fourth.

Bread Story’s Angelo Gabayni led all scorers with 27 points. He had 15 in the fourth and his layup with 1:20 left pulled the Pirates within, 89-93.