Blackwater slips past Cafe France in overtime

NU-BDO’s Glenn Khobuntin (right) and Ray Parks clamp down on Cebuana Lhuillier gunner Roi Sumang in yesterday’s game at JCSGO gym. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines — Blackwater Sports was a minute away from an early exit before Kevin Ferrer and Allan Mangahas took over to power the Elite past Cafe France in overtime, 87-82, Thursday and stay alive in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at JCSGO Gym in Quezon City.

Mangahas unloaded half of his 20 points in the extra period after the Elite came back from a six-point deficit to forge overtime at 70-all behind a triple and three free throws from Ferrer.

“Hopefully with this win, we’ll be able to turn things around,” coach Leo Isaac said after his Elite escaped elimination just a conference after bagging their first crown.

Meanwhile, NLEX posted one of the league’s most lopsided wins—a 47-point rout of Derulo Accelero, 111-64—to tie Big Chill for top spot and nail an outright semifinal berth.

The Elite improved to 7-5 for a share of sixth with the Bakers, who will lose the last quarterfinal berth to Blackwater if they end up tied at the end of the eliminations. The Elite will try to clinch the last quarterfinal slot with a win over Cebuana Lhuillier on Tuesday.

The Road Warriors set the league’s second biggest win margin since Maynilad won by 52 points over Junior Powerade, 119-67, in 2011.

Earlier, National University-Banco de Oro drubbed Cebuana Lhuillier, 93-75.

The scores:

First Game
BLACKWATER SPORTS 87—A. Mangahas 20, Ferrer 18, Cruz 13, Bulawan 9, Llagas 8, Ciriacruz 6, Bagatsing 4, Austria 3, Pe 2, Acibar 2, J. Mangahas 2.
CAFE FRANCE 82—Montilla 24, Batino 19, Cortes 12, Nimes 11, Ebondo 8, Abundo 6, Gallardo 2, Opiso 0, De Leon 0, Parale 0, Sarangay 0.
Quarters: 20-11, 34-31, 50-48, 70-70 (reg), 87-82

Second Game
NU-BDO 93—Khobuntin 22, Rosario 18, Parks 17, Labing-isa 10, Roño 6, Neypes 6, Celda 5, Perez 4, Javolona 3, Alolino 2.
CEBUANA LHUILLIER 75—Zamar 24, Sumang 15, Padilla 8, Gamalinda 8, Martinez 6, Javier 5, Paredes 4, Banal 3, Bustos 2, Olivares 0, Casajeros 0, Leybes 0.
Quarters: 21-17, 48-42, 67-60, 93-75

Third Game
NLEX 111—Lanete 13, Koga 12, Alas 11, Adeogun 10, J. Pascual 10, Long 9, R. Pascual 9, Dela Rosa 7, Amer 7, Ganuelas 7, K. Pascual 6, Raymundo 4, Hermida 4, Dela Cruz 2.
DERULO ACCELERO 64—Soyud 11, Corpuz 11, Bautista 11, Jeffries 10, Morillo 10, Wierzba 4, Manuel 3, Juruena 3, Roncal 2, Eman 2, Gingerich 2, Olondriz 0, Wong 0.
Quarters: 27-22, 54-39, 87-51, 111-64

Related stories:

Mangahas, Ferrer lift Blackwater past Cafe France to save PBA D-League bid

PBA D-League: Khobuntin stars off the bench as BDO-NU routs Cebuana Lhuillier

NLEX buries Derulo Accelero in a laugher to clinch semis berth