Mike Tolomia powered Phoenix to their fifth straight win with a 49-point blowout of Topstar ZC Mindanao, 126-77, Monday in the 2016 PBA D-League Foundation Cup at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The former FEU guard caught fire in the second period, unloading 11 points to push the Accelerators up to a 56-40 halftime lead, which would even balloon to as high as 53, 124-71.
Tolomia filled-up the statsheets with 25 points, nine assists, and four rebounds in the win.
Ed Daquioag chipped in 17 markers, five boards, and four dimes, Gryann Mendoza shot 3-of-7 from threes to end up with 15 points, and Yutien Andrada had 12 markers and six rebounds to keep Phoenix unscathed at 5-0.
Phoenix missed the services of Aspirants’ Cup Most Valuable Player Mac Belo, who served his one-game suspension following his ejection in the Accelerators’ last game against Blustar Detergent.
“When we had a three day break after going 4-0, I told the players that I want to see the original Phoenix squad last conference. After that break, nagulat ako sa pinakita nila,” said a satisfied coach Eric Gonzales, as he finally sees some semblance of the Aspirants’ Cup championship crew.
“It gave me confidence na pag ganyan ang ipakita ninyo, kahit sino ang iharap sa atin, magpo-profit tayo dahil grabe ang hard work nila sa practice,” he added.
“It’s not the offense. It’s the defense dahil doon nagsisimula ang lahat para sa amin.”
Gino Jumao-as carried Topstar ZC Mindanao (0-5) with 12 points.
The Scores:
Phoenix (126) – Tolomia 25, Daquioag 17, Mendoza 15, Andrada 12, Pogoy 11, Batino 10, Tamsi 10, Inigo 7, Knuttel 7, Escoto 6, Jamito 6.
Topstar (77) – Jumao-as 12, Ferrer 9, Argamino 8, Rono 8, Garcia 7, Cawaling 6, Dadjilul 6, Ongteco 6, Cabrera 5, Rivera 5, Sarangay 5, Acosta 0, Ignacio 0.
Quarterscores: 23-17, 56-40, 88-53, 126-77.
Rashawn McCasrthy led the AMA Online Education Titans to avert an upset [PBA IMAGES]
Rashawn McCarthy showed the way with 20 points, six assists, and five rebounds, while Jay-R Taganas tallied a double-double with 16 markers and 11 boards.
“Malaking tulong talaga si McCarthy at Taganas kasi pakonti-konti, nabubuo ko na yung team na gusto namin,” said coach Mark Herrera.
Jayson Jordan also had 13 points and five rebounds in the breakthrough victory.
The Titans crawled through a 12-point deficit, 64-52, in the fourth and finally grabbed the lead, 75-74 in the final 3:19 with a Ryan Arambulo fastbreak.
Rey Publico split his free throws to push AMA up, 81-78, with 7.6 seconds left, but McCarthy failed to close the deal out as he muffed his drive in the ensuing possession.
Chun Hong Ting, however, sent the ball out of bounds as he mistimed his pass to Juami Tiongson with 1.5 ticks left.
“Kamuntik pa. Buti na lang nag-turnover sila,” said Herrera, as AMA improved to 1-4.
Wong Yi Hou topped Blustar (1-5) with 21 points and five rebounds, while Tiongson got 20 markers, five boards, and four assists in the defeat.
The Scores:
AMA (81) – McCarthy 20, Taganas 16, Jordan 13, Siruma 9, Arambulo 7, Publico 7, Bragais 5, Jo. Montemayor 4, Calma 0, Gutierrez 0, Magpantay 0, Je. Montemayor 0, Ragasa 0.
Blustar (78) – Wong 21, Tiongson 20, Kuek 15, Yeo 11, Ma 10, Ting 1, Choo 0, Palma 0, Teo 0.
Quarterscores: 19-23, 36-36, 59-67, 81-78.
