Tautuaa’s freethrow lifts Cebuana Lhuillier over Cafe France

Moala Tautuaa of Cebuana (light) vs Michael Miranda of Cafe (dark).

MANILA, Philippines — Moala Tautuaa saw himself in a familiar situation on Monday – with the game on the line and his team’s fate in his hands as he walked towards the free throw line.

Tautuaa missed his first free throw but he made the second with 2.7 seconds left to lift his new team Cebuana Lhuillier in a come-from-behind win over Cafe France, 86-85, on Monday in the 2015 PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao.

“My free throw shooting, it’s like a girl, it has moods. Sometimes it’s on, sometimes it’s off,” the Fil-Tongan big man, who also had a key steal that led to his game-winning free throw.

Tautuaa had failed not too long ago under greater circumstance when he made only 1-of-2 at the charity stripe with 10 ticks left in regulation and Hapee went on to beat his former team Cagayan Valley in overtime for the title clincher last conference.

READ: I let my team down, says Cagayan’s Tautuaa after finals loss to Hapee

Fortunately for Tautuaa, one free throw was enough this time.

The 6-foot-7 Tautuaa had quite a debut for the Gems with 34 points and 13 rebounds. But the Bakers nearly spoiled his performance.

Cafe France took a 73-52 lead late in the third quarter before Tautuaa, Jackson Corpuz and Simon Enciso willed Cebuana back.

“I challenged [the players] after the third quarter that they have to show that they don’t give up,” said Cebuana Lhuillier coach Boycie Zamar.

Corpuz also recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds while Enciso tied the game at 85 on a 3-pointer with 16.5 seconds left before Tautuaa sank the go-ahead freebie.

Fil-American guard Maverick Ahanmisi led the Bakers with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Ahanmisi shot 5-of-8 from three-point range.