Cagayan nips pesky Derulo

KENNETH Ighalo, Adrian Celada and John Pinto struck in the closing minutes as Cagayan Valley downed hard-fighting Derulo Accelero, 104-100, to stay unbeaten in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup yesterday at JCSGO Gym in Cubao.

The Rising Suns kept the solo lead at 4-0 after the trio combined for 23 of Cagayan’s 27 points in the final quarter against the Oilers, the winless newcomer who surprisingly stayed within striking distance most of the game.

“We’re at 4-0 but we had to go through the eye of the needle,” said Cagayan coach Alvin Pua. “They really prepared for us.”

Upsets kicked off the triple bill earlier.

Josan Nimes erupted for 33 points to lift Cafe France past favored Boracay Rum, 84-80, while Arellano-Air21 picked up its first win with a 77-73 win over Zambales M-Builders.

Nimes, who made 14 of 18 shots, fired eight points in a 10-2 spurt that gave the Bakers a 10-point lead, 82-72, time down to 97 seconds.

Cafe France tied Zambales M-Builders for fifth at 2-2, while Arellano-Air21and Boracay Rum wound up at 1-1.

Agovida drilled seven of his 11 points in the final period, including six in a pivotal 11-4 run that pushed the Chiefs ahead, 71-65.
The scores:
First Game
CAFE FRANCE 84—Nimes 33, Parala 15, Ebondo 10, Abundo 9, Montilla 6, Gallardo 4, Celso 2, Sedurifa 2, Mutombo 2, Sarangay 1, Opiso 0, De Leon 0, Knuttel 0.
BORACAY RUM 80—Banchero 16, Belo 15, Taha 11, Cabrera 10, Sabellina 10, Arellano 7, Ilagan 6, Siruma 5, Bautista 0, Acibar 0, Tagarda 0, Eguilos 0.
Quarters: 19-24, 43-41, 62-62, 84-80
Second Game
ARELLANO-AIR21 77—Jalalon 13, Rogado 12, Agovida 11, Mendoza 8, Tayongtong 7, Cortes 7, Ciriacruz 6, Palma 4, Acidre 3, Fran 2, Bangga 2, Hernandez 2.
ZAMBALES M-BUILDERS 73—Gomez 20, Cruz 14, Ignacio 11, Tolomia 7, Doligon 7, Vidal 6, Mendoza 3, Pogoy 3, Alabanza 2, Maniago 0, Alcober 0.
Quarters: 9-19, 34-30, 56-53, 77-73
Third Game
CAGAYAN VALLEY 104—Ighalo 21, Celada 19, Pinto 17, Trollano 13, Bringas 13, Foronda 7, Melano 5, Mabulac 4, Collado 3, Mercader 2, Caperal 0, Dela Cruz 0.
DERULO ACCELERO 100—Manuel 26, Soyud 20, Bautista 14, Importante 11, Jeffries 8, Corpuz 6, Wong 5, Morillo 4, Asilum 3, Juruena 3, Dilay 0, Eman 0.
Quarters: 25-20, 49-40, 77-68, 104-100