The AMA Online Education Titans eked out a huge 67-66 victory over the Gamboa Coffee Lovers to score their breakthrough win in the 2017 PBA D-League Foundation Cup, Tuesday afternoon at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Embons Bonleon drained a lead-swinging freebie for the Titans with 8.3 seconds to play after getting fouled by Leo Avenido in the inbound.
The Coffee Lovers wasted a golden opportunity to steal the game after JR Cawaling threw an errant pass to Mark Montuano, which was stolen by Daniel Salonga to seal AMA’s first win this conference.
“Napakasarap,” quipped coach Mark Herrera. “Yung tinalo namin, puro ex-pro at sabi nga ng mga players ko, idol nila ang mga yan. Pero sabi ko, basketball ito at kailangan muna nila i-set aside yung mga iniisip nila na yun.”
Bonleon paced AMA with 16 points on a 6-of-17 clip from the field, on top of three rebounds, while Jaycee Asuncion contributed 14 markers, five boards, and two assists.
Andre Paras, who fouled out in the late stages of the game, also tallied another double-double with his 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Renzo Subido doled out 11 markers and five assists.
The Titans halted their five-game losing slide and rose up to 1-5, while also sending the Coffee Lovers to their fifth consecutive defeat.
Leo Avenido showed the way for Gamboa (1-5) with 15 points and five rebounds, while Montuano chimed in 11 markers and 13 boards.
AMA look to make it two in a row when they face the Wangs Basketball Couriers on Tuesday, July 11, at 3:00pm. Gamboa Coffee, on the other hand, hope to end their five-game skid on Monday, July 10, at 5:00pm. Both games will still be played at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The Scores:
AMA Online Education (67) – Bonleon 16, Asuncion 14, Paras 11, Subido 11, Villanueva 6, Alas 3, Flores 3, Salonga 3, Celso 0, Jordan 0, Malones 0.
Gamboa Coffee (66) – Avenido 15, Acuña 11, Montuano 11, Cawaling 10, Parala 9, Acibar 8, Knuttel 2, Arellano 0, Dadjilul 0, David 0, Jumao-as 0, Padilla 0, Riva 0, Vidal 0.
Quarterscores: 14-23, 30-35, 52-47, 67-66.
