GARVO Lanete, Ray Parks and Earl Scottie Thompson spearheaded the assault as Hapee overpowered Wangs, 65-43, yesterday to claim solo lead in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at Ynares Sports Arena.
The Fresh Fighters held Wangs to just a bucket in the second quarter to build a 21-point lead at halftime and coast to their sixth straight win.
“We made the necessary stops in the second quarter—that was the difference,” said Hapee coach Ronnie Magsanoc.
Cafe France later leaned on the hot-shooting Maverick Ahanmisi to edge the gritty MJM
M-Builders, 82-73, and climb to third at 5-1.
Earlier, Tanduay Light hacked out a 69-58 triumph over MP Hotel even minus ace guard Roi Sumang for a 3-4 record.
Ahanmisi erupted for 31 points, including the clutch baskets that helped the Bakers put away the Builders in the last two minutes.
“It’s because of my teammates; all credit goes to them,” said Ahanmisi, the Filipino-American guard who also pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out three assists.
Ahanmisi shot a perfect 7-of-7 from two-point range and also had four triples, the last with 58 seconds left that helped the Bakers pull away, 78-73, from a 73-73 deadlock.
Jul-Ashri Ignacio and Aljon Mariano combined for 28 points to lead the Rhum Masters, who survived without the indisposed Sumang.
Lanete fired 15 points to pace the Fresh Fighters, who opened the second quarter with a 10-0 blast before John Montemayor scored Wangs’ lone bucket of the period.
Parks added 11 points, eight rebounds and three assists for the Fresh Fighters, while Thompson drilled eight of his 11 points in the pivotal second period.
The scores:
First Game
TANDUAY LIGHT 69—Ignacio 16, Mariano 12, Tagarda 9, Foronda 9, Roño 8, Belencion 5, Mandani 4, De Vera 4, Ilagan 2, Escueta 0, Santos 0, Cenal 0, Banal 0.
MP HOTEL 58—Celda 14, Bulac 12, Pacquiao 11, Escosio 7, Rogado 7, Collado 6, Allen 1, Yaya 0, Quiro 0, Blanco 0, Jamon 0.
Quarters: 8-24, 27-29, 53-47, 69-58
Second Game
HAPEE 65—Lanete 15, Parks 11, Thompson 11, Van Opstal 8, Adeogun 8, Hayes 5, Amer 3, Rosario 2, Mendoza 2, Koga 0, Long 0, Sorela 0, Dela Cruz 0, Newsome 0.
WANGS 43—Acosta 15, Montemayor 7, Ferrer 6, Mendoza 5, Acuña 4, Vijandre 3, Morillo 1, Rosopa 1, Lina 1, Pontejos 0.
Quarters: 16-12, 35-14, 51-32, 65-43
Third Game
CAFE FRANCE 82—Ahanmisi 31, Galanza 10, Noble 8, Ebondo 8, Cortez 7, Huertas 6, Abundo 4, Sedurifa 4, Andrada 2, Batino 2, Jeruta 0, De Leon 0.
MJM M-BUILDERS 73—Khobuntin 15, Alolino 11, Tolomia 11, Cruz 10, Belo 8, Mendoza 6, Jose 4, Neypes 4 Javelona 4.
Quarters: 16-16, 34-37, 58-59, 82-73