The AMA Online Education Titans stayed alive in the Final Four race of the 2016 PBA D-League Foundation Cup, downing the Blustar Detergent Dragons, 113-84, Monday afternoon at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
It was also a record victory for the Titans as coach Mark Herrera noted this as the first winning streak for the franchise.
“Record sa amin ito. Ngayon pa lang kami nakapanalo ng back-to-back games, nagkaroon pa kami ng chance sa semifinals,” he said.
But it’s still a tough challenge for AMA, which at 3-5, has to sweep its remaining four games to at least be in contention for the fourth seed.
“Di na namin iniisip yung ibang teams. Ang iniisip na lang namin yung mga laro na makadagdag ng panalo sa amin,” the mentor added.
James Martinez paced the Titans with 32 points on a 5-of-13 shooting from threes.
Rashawn McCarthy also chipped in 24 markers, seven rebounds, and five assists, Jay-R Taganas did it all with 12 points, 16 rebounds, and five dimes, and Ryan Arambulo also got 16 markers in the win.
AMA fired a 13-0 run in the second quarter to pull away from the Dragons and hold a 21-point lead, 48-27, which would later extend to 30, 109-79 late in the fourth.
Chun Hong Ting led Blustar (1-9) with 21 points, while Juami Tiongson added 15 markers.
Kuek Tian Yuan also got a double-double 14 points, 20 rebounds, and four assists as the Dragons fell to their fifth straight defeat.
The Scores:
AMA (113) – Martinez 32, McCarthy 24, Arambulo 16, Taganas 12, Jo. Montemayor 10, Jordan 8, Ortega 5, Carpio 3, Asuncion 2, Belleza 1, Macaranas 0, Je. Montemayor 0.
Blustar (84) – Chun 21, Tiongson 15, Kuek 14, Ma 9, Liaw 8, Teo 6, Wong 3, Choo 2, Mak 2, Palma 2, Yeo 2, Gan 0, Ong 0, Yim 0.
Quarterscores: 20-19, 54-40, 81-63, 113-84.
