Hapee quintet flashes top form, ties for lead

HAPEE’S Ray Parks Jr. (left) eludes the defense of Tanduay’s Raymond Ilagan on the way to the hoop. photo:AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Hapee finally flashed its fearsome form as the Fresh Fighters rolled past Tanduay Light, 73-53, yesterday to join the early leaders in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at Ynares Sports Arena.

The Fresh Fighters, playing more in sync than in their debut, zoomed to a 19-6 start and stayed in full control the rest of the way, building leads as big as 30 points, 55-25.

“We played better than the first game, but it will take more effort for us to sustain this,” said Hapee coach Ronnie Magsanoc.

Cafe France and Cagayan Valley also pulled off contrasting victories to join Hapee and idle Jumbo Plastic on top at 2-0.

Cafe France coasted to a 67-56 triumph over newcomer Racal Motors while Cagayan held on to nip Bread Story-Lyceum, 97-94.

Former league MVP Garvo Lanete unloaded half of his 16 points in the first quarter on top of six rebounds and five assists to lead Hapee, which needed a strong windup to turn back AMA University, 69-61, last Monday.

Ray Parks also fired seven of his 12 points in Hapee’s blistering start.

Tanduay, which slipped to 1-1, played minus suspended coach Lawrence Chongson.

Cagayan Valley looked headed to a similar one-sided win, but had to lean on its veterans to outlast Bread Story-Lyceum, 97-94.

Michael Mabulac finished with 24 points and nine rebounds, while Jason Melano added 19 for the Rising Suns, who built a 17-point spread, 69-52.

But Bread Story center Joseph Gabayni exploded for 15 of his game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter to help trim the deficit, 94-91, with 25 ticks left.

The Pirates still had a shot at forging overtime after a Jebb Bulawan triple, 97-94, and a turnover by Cagayan’s Randy Dilay. But Louie Vigil missed a game-tying triple in the dying seconds.

The scores:

First Game

CAGAYAN VALLEY 97—Mabulac 24, Melano 19, Austria 13, Dilay 12, Trollano 12, Capacio 6, Flores 4, Galliguez 3, Salamat 2, Tayongtong 2, Mag-isa 0, Olayon 0, Hernandez 0.

BREAD STORY 94—Gabayni 27, Vigil 15, Gamboa 13, Corpuz 11, Daquioag 11, Jalalon 7, Zamora 5, Bulawan 3, Lasa 2, Baltazar 0 Lao 0, Taladua 0.

Quarters: 27-13, 49-36, 73-62, 97-94

Second Game

CAFE FRANCE 67—Huertas 12, Abundo 12, Ahanmisi 10, Jeruta 7, De Leon 7, Batino 6, Andrada 5, Ebondo 5, Sedurifa 2, Cortez 1, Galanza 0, Noble 0.

RACAL MOTORS 56—Ortuoste 15, Viernes 12, Saitanan 7, Asuncion 6, Ruaya 6, Gil 5, Ibay 2, Jamito 2, Redoh 1, Gabawan 0, Managuelod 0.

Quarters: 21-10, 41-26, 52-43, 67-56

Third Game

HAPEE 73—Lanete 16, Adeogun 13, Parks 12, Amer 7, Newsome 6, Van Opstal 5, Dela Cruz 4, Hayes 4, Koga 3, Thompson 2, Rosario 1, Mendoza 0, Long 0, Sorela 0.

TANDUAY LIGHT 53—Sumang 13, Roño 10, Foronda 8, Ilagan 6, Abrigo 5, De Leon 3, De Vera 2, Banal 2, Belencion 2, Tagarda 2, Mandani 0, Ignacio 0, Jumao-as 0, Cenal 0.

Quarters: 19-6, 39-21, 55-30, 73-53