PBA D-League: Gems bomb Guardians, nail semis spot

CEBUANA’S Clark Bautista pivots to make a pass off Liver Marin’s Sam Marcus and Bradwyn Guinto in yesterday’s game. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Cebuana Lhuillier got the emphatic win it wanted as the Gems ripped apart Liver Marin, 104-65, Monday to clinch an outright semifinal berth in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at Ynares Sports Arena.

Moala Tautuaa, Jackson Corpuz and Simon Ensico set the tone in the 39-point whipping that extended the Gems’ perfect run to seven games.

“I think we’re 60 percent into the kind of team I had envisioned for this conference,” said coach Boycie Zamar after his Gems, who narrowly escaped a first loss in their previous game, had the match in full control this time.

Roider Cab-rera pumped in 18 points to lead five Gems in double figures, while Tautuaa finished with 14 points.

Cafe France also secured at least a playoff stint for the last outright semifinal spot after outlasting the gung-ho KeraMix squad, 70-65, in the other match.

Rodrigue Ebondo dropped 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter, where the Bakers found their shooting touch, on the way to keeping the second spot at 6-2.

Only the top two teams at the end of the eliminations will jump straight to the semifinals, while the next four collide in the quarterfinals.

“Our shooting was really bad, but the guys hung on and I thought our patience paid off,” said Cafe France coach Egay Macaraya.

Ebondo also grabbed 15 boards as Maverick Ahanmisi and Jam Cortez chipped in 12 points each for the Bakers, who shot 56 percent from the field in the final canto after a miserable 25-percent clip in the first three quarters.

The Bakers could nail the No. 2 spot with a victory over Jumbo Plastic next week.

KeraMix slipped to fourth with a 4-4 card, while Liver Marin skidded to its sixth loss in seven outings.

The scores:
First Game  
CAFE FRANCE 70—Ebondo 16, Ahanmisi 12, Cortez 12, Sedurifa 7, Poligrates 7, Jeruta 5, Galanza 3, Abundo 3, Noble 3, Andrada 2, De Leon 0, Miranda 0, Batino 0.
KERAMIX 65—Jalalon 14, Agovida 11, Gabawan 8, Digregorio 7, Jamito 7, Parala 6, Robles 4, Sinco 3, Gil 2, Saitanan 2, Viernes 1, Ruaya 0.
Quarters: 15-15, 28-34, 44-47, 70-65
Second Game
CEBUANA LHUILLIER 104—Cabrera 18, Tautuaa 14, Enciso 13, Corpuz 11, Zamar 11, Torres 9, Vosotros 8, Bautista 8, Mangahas A. 4, Lopez 4, Costa 2, Sarangay 2, Acibar 0, Mangahas J. 0.
LIVER MARIN 65—Dela Cruz 10, Guinto 10, Calisaan 10, Ortuoste 7, Costelo 6, Ignacio 5, Fabian 5, De Vera 5, Laude 5, Santos 2, Marcus 0.
Quarters: 22-14, 54-31, 81-48, 104-65