Maiquez comes through for Giants in win over Gems

MANILA, Philippines — Dexter Maiquez scored seven points inside the final minute and Jumbo Plastic nipped Cebuana Lhuillier, 63-61, in the 2015 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup Monday at the Ynares Sports Arena.

Maiquez drained two 3-pointers and made the go-ahead free throw, 62-61, with 13.7 seconds left before the Gems’ Kevin Ferrer couldn’t cap his fourth quarter performance with what could’ve been a game-winning triple.

Giants guard Mark Cruz was intentionally fouled with still 0.3 tenths of a second left. He made the first free throw and purposely missed the second to let the time run out.

“It’s a good challenge for my players. It’s something that will make them play at a high level and will help us in the long run,” said Jumbo Plastic coach Steven Tiu. “I’m always counting on him  (Maiquez) to deliver.”

“Binibigyan kami ng kumpiyansa ni coach na tumira (Coach gives us the confidence to shoot),” said the former San Sebastian big man Maiquez, who wound up with 14 points and nine rebounds.

Ferrer led the Gems, who slipped to 1-1, with 14 points in his first game back from a wrist injury, which cut short his UAAP stint with UST this season.

The Giants, who missed the services of reliable big man Jan Colina due to a shoulder injury, improved to 2-0 after scraping past new team Bread Story, 79-74, last Thursday.

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