Tanduay Rhum overcame a sluggish start and defeated AMA Online Education, 72-66 in their PBA D-League Foundation Cup debut Thursday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The Rhum Masters relied on their fullcourt press to score a 29-13 third quarter, taking a 62-42 lead entering the final quarter in the process.
Jumpers by Rudy Lingganay gave Tanduay a double-digit advantage at 50-40, before the squad broke away with baskets in transition off AMA turnovers.
Tanduay had struggled before the huge third quarter uprising, trailing 10-5 at one point. But Jaypee Belencion and Reden Celda combined for 12 points in the second frame to push Tanduay ahead, 33-29 entering the halftime break.
“Yung character na sinasabi ko, yan ang tinututukan ko eh, may tendency sila magrelax, lumalaban lang sa level ng competition. Lagi ko sila wina-warn, sooner or later, pagbababayarin natin yan,” Tanduay head coach Lawrence Chongson said.
“Yung paglamang ng 20 in a few minutes lang, dun mo naman makikita yung potential. Pero kailangan pa rin tutukan ang killer instinct,” Chongson added.
AMA then cut the deficit down to only 66-56 halfway in the fourth quarter after five straight points from Gene Belleza, but triples from Lucas Tagarda and Belencion made it 72-58 for the Rhum Masters.
Still, AMA closed the game on an 8-0 run, a concern for Tiongson in the next games to come.
“Lahat ng sumali malalakas. Kung ganito ilalaro namin, hindi kami mananalo don. Basically it’s about yung character as a whole. Kailangan talaga matutukan yun,” Chongson said.
Lingganay had 12 points to lead Tanduay while Belencion added 10. Celda chipped in eight points while three more scored seven points apiece.
Belleza and Jaycee Asuncion paced AMA with 18 points apiece.
The Rhum Masters (1-0) will next face the Phoenix Accelerators on Tuesday, June 7 at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao. AMA (0-1), on the other hand, go up against Racal in the first game of the day.
The Scores:
Tanduay Rhum (72) – Lingganay 12, Belencion 10, Celda 8, Javillonar 7, Mendoza 7, Santos 7, Vigil 6, Alolino 4, Tagarda 4, Acibar 3, Acuna 2, Gotladera 2, Cenal 0, Stevens 0.
AMA Online Education (66) – Asuncion 18, Belleza 18, Publico 8, Bragais 5, Jordan 5, Jo. Montemayor 4, Ragasa 4, Arambulo 2, Je. Montemayor 2, Calma 0, Dizon 0, Macaranas 0, Magpantay 0, Olivares 0.
Quarterscores: 13-15, 33-29, 62-42, 72-66.
