After a dismal performance in the first game of the 2016 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup Finals, Carl Cruz stepped up big in the final frame to lift the Cafe France-Centro Escolar University Bakers to an 86-77 win over the Phoenix-Far Eastern University Accelerators to tie the Finals series at one game apiece Tuesday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Both teams were neck and neck in the opening quarter as Ed Daquioag led Phoenix-FEU with seven first quarter to give the Accelerators a 23-20 lead to end the first frame. During that quarter, Bakers forward Samboy de Leon was accessed a technical foul with seconds left before the quarter ended that would haunt him later on.
The pressing defense of the Bakers made life miserable for the Accelerators to start the second quarter. Phoenix-FEU was limited to just two points, a breakaway layup by Daquioag, in the first four minutes of the quarter. The 2015 PBA D-League Foundation Cup champions took advantage of this as they went on a 20-2 rally sparked by Aaron Jeruta to give Cafe France-CEU a 40-25 lead. A technical foul assessed on Jayson Opiso led to a free throw for Mac Belo to halt the Baker rally but De Leon scored five points in the last two minutes of the half to give Cafe France-CEU a 49-34 lead before the break.
“Ngayon naman nagkabaliktad yung nangyari,” Phoenix-FEU head coach Egay Macaraya said about the early success his team found in the game. “Nung first three quarters, kami lang nag naglalaro, sila hindi kaya natambakan sila.”
Phoenix-FEU went on a 10-3 rally to open the third canto behind RR Pogoy and Daquioag. However, the Accelerators committed a bevy on unforced turnovers that led to free throws for Congolese big man Rod Ebondo and back-to-back triples by Paul Zamar to extend the bakers lead to a game-high 21 points, 65-44. Free throws by Achie Inigo and a three-point play by Belo trimmed the Baker lead to 18. Moreover, De Leon was ejected from the game after a flagrant foul was called on him with 29.6 seconds left in the quarter.
Gaining momentum from Belo’s strong play, the Accelerators went on a blitzing 8-0 rally to start the quarter sparked by an Achie Inigo jumper and capped by Daquioag to cut the lead to ten, 69-59, with 8:08 remaining. Joseph Manlangit’s timely baskets kept the Bakers afloat but a triple by Al Francis Tamsi cut the lead to single digits, 74-66, midway through the quarter.
With Phoenix-FEU creeping into their lead, former FEU Tamaraw Carl Cruz broke the spirits of his former team every time they held a rally. Tolomia was able to find Belo for a triple and, in the next play, Yutien Andrada for a lay-in with 1:45 remaining to cut the Cafe France lead to just four, 81-76. Mon Abundo was able to find Cruz for an eye in the sky play for the hoop and the harm to extend the lead to seven, 84-77, with 1:23 remaining. A miss by Tolomia on the other end almost led to a basket for Abundo. The CEU point guard missed though but Cruz was able to put the ball back into the basket to extend the lead to nine with 33 seconds remaining. A costly turnover by Mike Tolomia ended the game.
“In the fourth quarter, napagod yung mga bata kaya nahabol kami. Nahirapan din kami mag-adjust sa zone kasi sa last part hindi pumapasok tira namin sa three,” Macaraya said. “In the end, two crucial saves ni Carl. Yun yung nag-save nung game.”
After scoring a season-low four points in the first game, Carl Cruz had 18 points and nine boards to lead Cafe France-CEU. “He redeemed himself. Alam naman natin na pangit laro niya nung first game. Now, na-prove niya na it’s about the PBA,” Macaraya shared about the former FEU Tamaraw.
Paul Zamar added 13 markers with nine coming from beyond the arc. Aaron Jeruta also scored in double-digits with 12.
For Phoenix-FEU, Mac Belo lead the way with 22 points and nine boards. He was just 6/15 from the field but made up for it on the foul stripe as he went 9/9. Ed Daquioag added 16 markers.
Game Three is set to be played on Thursday, April 7 at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City.
The Scores:
Cafe France-CEU (86) – Cruz 18, Zamar 13, Jeruta 12, Ebondo 11, Abundo 19, De Leon 8, Manlangit 7, Opiso 4, Villahermosa 3, Casino 0, Celso 0.
Phoenix-FEU (77) – Belo 22, Daquioag 16, Pogoy 10, Tamsi 9, Tolomia 6, Ru. Escoto 5, Inigo 5, Andrada 4, Ri. Escoto 0, Mendoza 0, Pascual 0.
Quarterscores: 20-23, 49-34, 69-51, 86-77.
