Gems blast Pirates, gain tie for fourth spot

JEREMY King of AMA swats away a pass intended for Roi Sumang of Tanduay Light in yesterday’s game at Filoil Flying V Arena. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Cebuana Lhuillier came up with the big game it wanted as the Gems rolled past Bread Story-Lyceum, 90-78, to stay in the hunt for the last quarterfinal bonus in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup yesterday at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Gems ripped the game wide open early behind guard Simon Enciso, who pumped in half of his game-high 24 points from three-point range.

“The boys really wanted to win, but our effort should be consistent every game,” said coach Boycie Zamar after his Gems tied idle Jumbo Plastic  for fourth place with a 6-4 record.

The Gems will secure a twice-to-beat quarterfinal advantage if they win their last game versus cellar-dweller MP Hotel and the Giants lose against MJM M-Builders on Thursday.

In other games, Ryan Celso and Joseph Sedurifa fired 14 points each as Cafe France easily dispatched Wangs, 68-50, while Tanduay Light tripped AMA University, 74-66.

The third-running Bakers, already assured of a twice-to-beat edge in the quarterfinals, ended their elimination run with a 9-2 card.

Jaypee Belencion knocked in 17 points to lift the Rhum Masters, who survived the Titans’ comeback attempts in the final quarter.

Although the victory pushed the Rhum Masters inside the top six at 5-6, they have to wait until next week to find out if they are going to the quarterfinals.

If Bread Story-Lyceum wins its last game versus Racal Motors on Monday, it will end up tied with Tanduay for sixth. But the Pirates will grab the last quarterfinal slot due to the winner-over-the-other tiebreak rule.

The scores
First Game
CEBUANA LHUILLIER 90—Enciso 24, Acibar 10, Lopez 10, Torres 9, Zamar 8, Guinto 6, Vosotros 6, Villahermosa 5, Ferrer 4, Bautista 3, Sarangay 3, A. Mangahas 2, Banal 0, J. Mangahas 0.
BREAD STORY-LYCEUM 78—Jalalon 19, Vigil 11, Corpuz 8, Mbomiko 8, Daquioag 8, Bangga 7, Bulawan 6, Baltazar 4, Taladua 3, Gamboa 2, Elmejrab 2, Lao 0.
Quarters: 23-13, 43-31, 69-48, 90-78
Second Game
CAFE FRANCE 68—Celso 14, Sedurifa 14, Galanza 9, Huertas 6, Noble 6, Andrada 6, Batino 5, Ahanmisi 3, Abundo 2, Cortes 2, Jeruta 1, De Leon 0.
WANGS 50—Acosta 17, Montuano 9, Pontejos 7, Miranda 7, Morillo 5, Morales 3, Montemayor 2, Purdy 0, Acuña 0, Arambulo 0, Lina 0.
Quarters: 21-8, 35-21, 51-37, 68-50
Third Game
TANDUAY LIGHT 74—Belencion 17, Foronda 8, Mariano 8, Sumang 7, Tagarda 7, Mandani 6, Ilagan 6, Escueta 4, Santos 4, Rono 4, De Vera 2, Jumao-as 1.
AMA UNIV. 66—Eriobu 17, Sabangan 13, King 10, Balacunag 8, Taganas 8, Sison 7, Martinez 3, Diswe 0, Rosales 0, Arellano 0.
Quarters: 17-11, 37-28, 48-49, 74-66