Cafe France used a third-quarter blitz to turn back MP Hotel, 86-77, Thursday and seize solo second in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Cashing in on the Warriors’ erratic play late in the third period, the Bakers scored nine unanswered points to build enough cushion to hold off MP Hotel’s late surge and secure their third win in four outings.
Kera Mix later foiled Hapee’s bid to grab a share of second with a narrow 77-73 victory.
Jiovani Jalalon finished with 12 points, spearheading a blistering charge in the middle periods to help the Mixers snap a two-game slide and improve to 3-2.
The Mixers and the Fresh Fighters were engaged in a tense and emotional battle that almost turned ugly with 6:07 left in the third quarter when Hapee’s Kirk Long challenged two defenders and got hit hard in the face by Raymundo Jamito.
The incident drew a flagrant foul 1 for Jamito while Arvie Bringas, Nico Elorde and Jalalon got technical fouls in the aftermath of the melee.
Kera Mix coach Caloy Garcia and Hapee officials Ivy Bautista and Bernard Young also got technicals for entering the court.
The Fresh Fighters were still in the game with a minute remaining, 67-70, but the Mixers kept their poise from the free-throw line, nailing five straight foul shots, including two from Jalalon, to seal the victory.
The scores:
First Game
CAFE FRANCE 86—Ahanmisi 18, Sedurifa 15, Andrada 11, Jeruta 7, De Leon 7, Batino 7, Abundo 6, Ebondo 6, Cortez 5, Noble 4, Galanza 0, Celso 0, Miranda 0.
MP HOTEL 77—Quinto 15, Cruz 14, Nambatac 13, Acidre 9, Custodio 7, Escosio 6, Mirza 5, Colina 4, Mendoza 4.
Quarters: 21-16, 42-34, 59-52, 86-77
Second Game
KERA MIX 77—Jalalon 12, Digregorio 11, Viernes 11, Robles 11, Gabawan 8. Ruaya 8, Parala 8, Agovida 6, Jamito 2.
HAPEE 73—Newsome 15, Rosario 15, Long 11, Elorde 9, Parks 7, Villahermosa 5, Bringas 4, Thompson 3, Gamboa 2, Mendoza 2, Romero 0.
Quarters: 15-12, 34-25, 53-42, 77-73