Hapee rips Cagayan, nears Aspirants title

ABEL Galliguez of Cagayan Valley tries to pivot away from Nico Elorde of Hapee Toothpaste at San Juan Arena yesterday. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Hapee’s big men proved too tough to handle as the Fresh Fighters roared to an 82-74 trouncing of the Cagayan Valley Rising Suns yesterday at the start of their best-of-three title series in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Nigerian center Ola Adeogun tallied 21 points, including eight in the opening period, while Troy Rosario fired six of his 16 points in the same quarter as the Fresh Fighters unleashed a fiery start to seize control of the series.

The Fresh Fighters can claim the title with a victory in Game 2 on Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena.

Coming out with all guns blazing, Hapee built an early 20-point advantage before fending off repeated runs by the Rising Suns, who struggled to get going in the first quarter.

A 15-0 blitz to end the first period set the tone for the Fresh Fighters who built a 29-11 lead that ballooned to 35-15 on Scott Thompson’s trey early in the second period.

“Ola and Troy have been our workhorses,” said Hapee coach Ronnie Magsanoc. “Rebounding, interior defense, I could not ask for more from them except to finish the race for us.”

Adeogun and Rosario outplayed their Cagayan counterparts including Mo Tautuaa, who had 16 points and 15 rebounds.

Named Most Valuable Player of the tournament before the game, Hapee’s Ray Parks had a quiet game with just six points and five rebounds. But the Fresh Fighters drew solid games from Baser Amer and Thompson who combined for 15 points.

The Rising Suns never got closer than seven points, 72-79, with a minute remaining before Adeogun and Parks nailed cushion free throws to seal the outcome.

“We turned it into a defensive oriented series and that gave us an advantage,” said Magsanoc.

The scores:

HAPEE 82—Adeogun 21, Rosario 16, Dela Cruz 11, Amer 9, Lanete 9, Parks 6, Thompson 6, Newsome 3, Elorde 1, Mendoza 0, Long 0, Hayes 0.

CAGAYAN VALLEY  74—Tautuaa 16, Mabulac 14, Trollano 13, Melano 12, Salamat 7, Celada 4, Dilay 3, Galliguez 3, Flores 2, Austria 0, Tayongtong 0, Santos 0.

Quarters: 29-11, 45-32, 67-54, 82-74