Banchero lifts surging Waves

BORACAY Rum’s Fil-Italian guard Chris Banchero puts up a shot off Joseph Abaya of Hog’s Breath in yesterday’s game at Arellano Gym. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Chris Banchero powered a surging Boracay Rum to a 91-67 rout of a Hog’s Breath Cafe squad on an alarming downward spiral in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup yesterday at Arellano Gym.

Banchero, the top rookie pick who has keyed Boracay’s turnaround, fired 16 points and dished out six assists to lead the Waves to a third straight victory that kept them in quarterfinal contention at 5-5.

Jeff Viernes also shot 14 and Mac Belo had a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds against the Razorbacks, who surprisingly dropped their last three games by an average of 21.3 points after a remarkable 7-0 start.

“The good thing right now is that the players are starting to embrace the system,” said Waves coach Lawrence Chongson. “We still can be better.”

Earlier, National University-Banco de Oro, playing without coach Eric Altamirano, dumped Arellano-Air21, 97-68, to snap out of a six-game losing spell.

Ray Parks pumped in 18 points and Troy Rosario shot 18 in a game the Bulldogs controlled all the way after building a double-digit lead, 23-12, right in the first quarter.

The Waves pulled away with a 10-0 run in the first quarter for a 20-12 advantage that ballooned to 17 points, 55-38, by halftime.

Only the top six out of the 14-team field will advance to the quarterfinals.

The scores:
First Game
NU-BDO 97—Parks 20, Rosario 18, Villamor 9, Labing-isa 8, Celda 7, Khobuntin 7, Roño 6, Neypes 6, Perez 6, De Guzman 5, Javelona 3, Alolino 2.
ARELLANO-AIR21 68—Hernandez 12, Ciriacruz 11, Bangga 10, Yaya 7, Nuilan 7, Tayongtong 6, Bartolo 4, Palma 4, Jalalon 4, Fran 3, Arquero 0, Acidre 0.
Quarters: 23-12, 47-35, 76-45, 97-68
Second Game
BORACAY RUM 91—Banchero 16, Viernes 14, Belo 12, Cabrera 12, Siruma 10, Eguilos 9, Taha 8, Tagarda 4, Ilagan 4, Sabellina 2, Arellano 0.
HOG’S BREATH CAFE 67—Sanga 11, Gabawan 10, Paniamogan 10, Racal 10, Terso 7, Ruaya 6, Rios 5, Pasculado 4, Austria 2, Macasaet 2, Publico 0, Allera 0.
Quarters: 26-13, 55-38, 71-56, 91-67