The Cafe France-Centro Escolar University Bakers suffered a heart-breaking Game Three loss in the best-of-five series in the 2016 PBA D-League Aspirant’s Cup Finals against the Phoenix-Far Eastern University Accelerators last Thursday.
Needing to take Game Four to extend the series to a do-or-die Game Five, the Bakers played with intensity in the game that led to an 82-68 lead with 6:47 remaining in the game. However, just like in Game Three, the Accelerators rallied back behind reigning MVP Mac Belo.
Belo scored 10 points in a 20-7 rally to cut the deficit to just a solitary point, 89-88, with 2:58 left. Needing to put up points on the board, 28 year old former UE Red Warrior Paul Zamar took matters into his own hands in scoring five straight points highlighted by a three-point play against Phoenix-FEU big man Raymar Jose that ultimately cut short the Accelerator rally.
“We just wanted to bounce back badly from Game Three,” Zamar said after the game. “We thought the game was in our hands but, yun nga, sabi ni coach lagi niyang sinasabi that the breaks of the game ay hindi sa amin. We really have to take the game talaga.”
Paul Zamar led the Cafe France-CEU Bakers in the Game Four win with 25 points on 7/12 shooting from the field and 8/8 from the charity stripe. Moreover, he was able to knock down three triples and grab five boards in the game.
“Paul played super basketball today to bring up Cafe France. Maganda siguro yung magpapakasal ka kasi gumaganda laro mo,” Bakers head coach Egay Macaraya shared about the recently-married Zamar. “They showed character especially the guards. Kahit maliliit sila, they rebounded the ball (against Phoenix-FEU’s bigs).”
For Zamar, he admitted that he had a no-tomorrow mindset going into the game. Moreover, the heartbreaks he had faced with past team Cebuana Lhuiller was his motivation to carry the team. “Wala na kasi kaming bukas e. Isang talo lang out na so as, I hate to say this, the oldest player in the team I don’t want to let my team down. I’ve been through a lot sa Cebuana Lhuiller,” he said.
“Puro semis natatalo. Now I want to win a championship.”
Getting hitched last weekend, Zamar also extended his sincerest gratitude to his wife for understanding his predicament he is in right now. “I’m always inspired naman. I would want to thank my wife for being very supportive,” Zamar shared. “We postponed our honeymoon because we are in the middle of the battle.”
“We have to be professional in what we do as professional basketball players.”
The winner-take-all Game Five of the 2016 PBA D-League Finals is set to be played on Thursday, April 15 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
