Bakers, Waves, Gems hurdle openers
MANILA, Philippines — CafeFrance found its rhythm early while Boracay Rum and Cebuana Lhuillier outlasted retooled foes Monday as the three teams won on opening day in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup.
The Bakers built a double-digit lead in the first half behind Rod Ebondo and went on to whip Derulo Accelero, 90-73, in the first of a heavy three-game opener at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Ebondo fired 18 points and Jam Cortes added 17 to pace the Bakers.
Boracay Rum, though, fought back from 19 points down to carve out a 79-69 victory over Cagayan Valley.
Filipino-Italian guard Chris Banchero shot a day-high 22 points to power the Waves in a huge third-quarter run where they outscored the Rising Suns, 27-12.
Cebuana also clipped Jumbo Plastic, 60-54, behind the combined 27 points of Alvin Padilla and Bam Gamalinda. With a report from Xavier Villaluz
The scores:
First Game
CAFE FRANCE 90—Ebondo 18, Cortes 17, Acidre 13, Montilla 11, Abundo 11, Sedurifa 6, Jeruta 3, De Leon 3, Batino 3, Mutombo 3, Opiso 2, Gallardo 0.
DERULO ACCELERO 73–Juico 20, Soyud 11, Mendoza 9, Bautista 9, Importante 7, Corpuz 6, Acosta 5, Roncal 4, Pao 2, Morillo 0.
Quarters: 18-17, 45-34, 63-52, 90-73
Second Game
BORACAY RUM 79—Banchero 22, Lingganay 12, Sabellina 10, Taha 10, Cabrera 9, Belo 6, Tagarda 4, Ignacio 3, Caperal 3, Siruma 0, Bautista 0, Eguilos 0.
CAGAYAN VALLEY 69—Foronda 15, Galliguez 14, Gomez 10, Vidal 9, Collado 8, Ighalo 7, Casajeros 6, Olivares 0, Gatchalian 0, Melano 0, Alabanza 0, Bangga 0.
Quarters: 11-24, 34-43, 61-55, 79-69 Third Game
CEBUANA LHUILLIER 60—Padilla 14, Gamalinda 13, Zamar 11, Leynes 6, Arellano 5, Ilad 4, Banal 4, Martinez 3, Banal 0, Paredes 0, Sarangay 0.
JUMBO PLASTIC 54—Viernes 17, Ballesteros 8, Dehesa 7, Colina 6, Villamor 4, Parala 3, Custodio 3, Cañada 2, Tan 2, Romero 2, Magat 0, Petilos 0.
Quarters: 17-17, 38-34, 50-46, 60-54
