Elite nail last quarterfinal slot; Cagayan stops NLEX

CELEPONIO Trollano of Cagayan loses the ball as Rome dela Rosa of NLEX defends in yesterday’s D-Leaguematch. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines — Blackwater Sports wasted no time in clinching the last quarterfinal berth in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup Tuesday at Filoil Flying V Arena.

Playing for survival for the second straight game, the Elite zoomed to a 25-5 start on the way to a 96-74 dumping of Cebuana Lhuillier to barge into the top six while eliminating idle hopeful Cafe France.

Jericho Cruz pumped in 19 points and grabbed 16 rebounds for the in-sync Elite, who wound up tied with the Bakers at 8-5 but earned the ticket to the next round due to a superior quotient.

“The players were aware of the importance of this game,” said Blackwater coach Leo Isaac. “We were on the same page offensively and defensively.”

Cagayan Valley, assured of a quarterfinal slot, snapped the seven-game winning run of NLEX with a 78-74 upset, while National University-Banco de Oro wrapped up its campaign with a third straight triumph over Derulo Accelero, 83-57.

Despite slipping to 10-2, the Road Warriors along with idle Big Chill (11-1) have secured the top two slots and will go straight to the semifinals.

The Elite, meanwhile, hope to buck the odds anew against No. 3 Jumbo Plastic (10-3), which owns a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

No. 4 Hog’s Breath Cafe (9-3) holds the other quarterfinal bonus in its duel against the Rising Suns.

The scores:

BLACKWATER SPORTS 96—Cruz 19, A. Mangahas 16, Ferrer 11, Llagas 11, Bulawan 9, Bagatsing 9, Ciriacruz 8, Austria 6, Suguitan 3, Avillanoza 2, Acibar 2, Pe 0, J. Mangahas 0.

CEBUANA LHUILLIER 74—Gamalinda 14, Leynes 10, Sumang 9, Olivares 9, Casajeros 7, Zamar 7, Banal 6, Paredes 4, Noble 2, Javier 2, Flores 2, Bustos 2, Padilla 0.

Quarters: 31-13, 51-34, 80-54, 96-74