Ray Parks and Garvo Lanete struck hardest in the second half as Hapee shook off a tough early challenge from Cafe France, 70-55, yesterday to stay unbeaten in seven games in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at Marikina Sports Complex.
“It was a very good test for us,” said Hapee coach Ronnie Magsanoc. “I thought our defense made the difference.”
Parks unloaded a game-high 20 points and Lanete shot half of his 14 points in the third quarter, where the Fresh Fighters outscored the Bakers, 20-8, from a 35-36 halftime count.
Cagayan Valley also streaked to a sixth straight triumph after dispatching Jumbo Plastic, 82-74, while Cebuana Lhuillier thumped AMA University, 73-55, for a 4-3 card.
Picking up its rhythm in the second period, Cagayan leaned on Abel Galliguez, Randy Dilay and Eric Salamat in the early going before turning to Filipino-Tongan Moala Tautuaa in the endgame.
“We pulled it off together in the second half,” said the 6-foot-8 Tautuaa.
Cagayan sustained its perfect run even minus coach Alvin Pua, who was ejected in the second half after a squabble with a game official.
Galliguez delivered 14 points, five assists and three steals off the bench, while Dilay chipped in 11 points for Cagayan.
The Bakers, who were held to just 19 points in the second half, remained in third place at 5-2 while the fourth-running Giants fell to 5-3.
The scores:
First Game
CEBUANA LHUILLIER 73—Torres 21, Ferrer 12, Villahermosa 11, Zamar 7, Vosotros 7, Bautista 5, Lopez 4, A. Mangahas 3, Sarangay 2, Guinto 1, Banal 0, Enciso 0, J. Mangahas 0.
AMA UNIV. 55—Eriobu 14, Cubillo 11, Olivares 9, Martinez 7, Taganas 5, Balucanag 4, Rosales 3, Sabangan 2, Dizon 0.
Quarters: 21-20, 36-30, 53-45, 73-55
Second Game
CAGAYAN VALLEY 82—Tautuaa 16, Galliguez 14, Dilay 11, Trollano 8, Salamat 8, Celada 8, Mabulac 6, Austria 5, Flores 4, Melano 2, Mag-isa 0, Capacio 0.
JUMBO PLASTIC 74—Terso 14, Rosales 9, Eguilos 8, Paniamogan 8, Javier 8, Tiongson 8, Cruz 6, Magat 4, Villamor 4, Rios 3, Petillos 2, Maiquez 0.
Quarters: 14-18, 37-30, 58-45, 82-74
Third Game
HAPEE 70—Parks 20, Lanete 14, Dela Cruz 8, Rosario 7, Amer 6, Van Opstal 6, Long 5, Adeogun 4, Thompson 0.
CAFE FRANCE 55—Ahanmisi 13, Abundo 10, Noble 10, De Leon 6, Huertas 4, Sedurifa 4, Batino 3, Ebondo 3, Andrada 2.
Quarters: 19-16, 35-36, 55-44, 70-55