Mac Montilla of Cafe France (dark) vs Kenneth Ighalo of Cagayan (light). PBA D-LEAGUE IMAGE by Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines — Cafe France topped Cagayan Valley, 70-66, to snap a four-game losing skid in the 2014 PBA D-League Foundation Cup Monday at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao.
The Bakers banked on a strong finishing kick—going on an 8-2 run—in the final 1:28 of the game with Aaron Jurueta providing the go-ahead basket, 67-66, with 26.3 ticks left.
“Hopefully, this (win) will turn things around for us,” said Cafe France coach Egay Macaraya after his team joined Big Chill in fifth place with a 3-4 slate.
Rodrigue Ebondo led Cafe France with 14 points and 17 rebounds while Jerueta, one of Centro Escolar University’s key players, finished with six points.
It was a big win for the Bakers as the fight for a playoff spot tightens up, but Macaraya knows his team can’t lose its focus with two other teams in the Suns and the Boracay Rum Waves, who also lost Monday to Blackwater Sports in overtime, waiting for them to slip down the standings.
Add the fact that the Bakers will end their elimination round campaign against the defending champion Elite and second-running Jumbo Plastic.
“It’s a tough challenge for us. But it’s a good test for the players and good learning experience.”
Ed Daquioag, who led all scorers with 17 points, put the Rising Suns on top, 66-65, with 50 seconds left before Jerueta’s response.
Cagayan missed two 3-pointers in the dwindling seconds while Cafe France made three out of its four free throw attempts to put the game away.
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