Banchero, Belo shine in Waves’ close win over Bakers

Boracay Rum’s Mark Belo struggles with Cafe France’s Joseph Sedurifa while Chris Banchero and Jam Cortez battles for position.

MANILA, Philippines — Mark Belo sank the game-winning basket to lift Boracay Rum over Cafe France, 80-79, in the 2014 PBA D-League Foundation Cup Tuesday at the Meralco Gym.

Belo, the Far Eastern University forward, buried a baseline jumper with 8.4 seconds left as the Waves improved their record to 2-1.

“We’re just lucky,” said Boracay Rum coach Lawrence Chongson. “They (Cafe France) pushed us to the limit. We won this by one stroke of luck. We played poorly in the closing minutes but a win is a win.”

More than just luck, it took a heady plays from the Waves in the dwindling seconds to pull off the win.

Off a miss by Mac Montilla, Boracay Rum secured the rebound that allowed point guard Chris Banchero to push the ball down the court that led to Belo’s go-ahead basket.

Banchero had 19 points, including a layup that trimmed the Bakers’ lead down to one with 35 ticks to go.

Big men Rodrigue Ebondo and Jam Cortes each scored 18 points for Cafe France, which lost its first game in three outings.

Cortes put the Bakers on top by three, 79-76, with a little over a minute remaining.

Prince Caperal chipped in 11 points for the Waves, who rebounded from last week’s 94-103 loss to the NLEX Road Warriors. Belo and Paolo Taha wound up with 10 points apiece.

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