ROD Ebondo (left) puts up a shot as Cafe Francé teammates Eliud Poligrates and Mark Sarangay hem in Cagayan Valley’s Mark Bringas (partly hidden) and Jason Melano in yesterday’s inaugural game of the PBA D-League. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO / NUKI SABIO
Don Trollano delivered the key baskets as Cagayan Valley opened its PBA D-League Aspirants Cup campaign in style by scuttling Café France, 83-74, yesterday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The Adamson gunner fired 22 points, including 17 in the second half, as the new-look Rising Suns got the better of a Café France squad groping for form with the arrival of new players in its lineup.
“He stepped up when we needed to score and he was big in the fourth quarter when Café France made a big run,” said Cagayan Valley coach Alvin Pua of his shooting guard.
Trollano’s performance couldn’t have come at a better time for the Rising Suns who are still missing Kenneth Ighalo, Prince Caperal, Mike Mabulac, John Pinto and Mark Cruz due to commitments to their school in the NCAA.
Later, the Zambales M-Builders, getting a big game from former Perpetual Help star Jett Vidal, also launched their campaign with an impressive 79-73 triumph over Derulo Accelero.
Vidal knocked in 12 of his 21 points in the final quarter, spearheading a 22-9 windup that boosted the Builders, who also drew 20 points from Far Eastern U star Mike Tolomia.
Built around University of the Philippines players, Derulo looked poised to notch a first victory when King Importante struck to give the Oilers a 64-56 lead with 6:23 left.
Then Vidal came to Builders’ rescue.
“Good thing Jett found his rhythm in the fourth,” said Zambales M-Builders coach Junel Mendiola.
The Bakers tied the game at 68 on a basket by Poligrates with 4:19 left in the fourth quarter but the Rising Suns closed the game with a 15-6 blast.
The scores:
First Game
CAGAYAN 83—Trollano 22, Celada 20, Bringas 11, Foronda 10, Canta 6, Mercader 5, Melano 5, Saycon 4, Jamito 0, Dela Cruz 0.
CAFEFRANCE 74—Exciminiano 16, Poligrates 14, Nimes 14, Ebondo 8, Mutombo 6, Knuttel 6, Parala 5, Abundo 4, De Leon 1, Sedurifa 0, Opiso 0, Batino 0, Sarangay 0.
Quarters: 15-17; 36-27; 55-53; 83-74.
Second Game
M-BUILDERS 79—Vidal 21, Tolomia 20, Cruz 10, Gomez 8, Alabanza 6, Ignacio 5, Mendoza 4, Pogoy 3, Maniago 2, Saret 0, Wong 0.
DERULO 73—Soyud 17, Asilum 15, Manuel 13, Jeffries 11, Importante 7, Corpuz 5, Bautista 3, Gingerich 2, Juruena 0, Morillo 0.
Quarters: 16-19; 34-31; 53-54; 79-73.