Baser Amer of Hapee dribbles the hoop. TRISTAN TAMAYO/INQUIRER.net
Baser Amer and Chris Newsome teamed up to drag Hapee to a hard-fought 87-81 victory over MP Hotel – Letran, clinching one of the twice-to-beat advantages in the quarterfinals of the 2015 PBA D-League Foundation Cup Monday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The shifty guard from San Beda and the athletic ex-Blue Eagle anchored the Fresh Fighters’ pivotal 15-2 run, turning a 67-64 deficit to a 79-69 lead in Hapee’s favor with 2:17 left in the payoff period.
It was Fresh Fighters fourth straight victory to end the eliminations with a 6-3 slate.
Amer finished with 11 points, six assists, and four rebounds, while Newsome just missed out on a double-double with 13 markers and nine boards.
Art dela Cruz led the balanced attack for Hapee with 15 points and seven rebounds while Ola Adeogun got 14 markers, five boards, and three blocks.
Hapee coach Ronnie Magsanoc admitted that the playoff berth was already an achievement for the squad considering the number of pkayers which they missed this conference.
“Just to make it to the playoffs was our wish. Tinrabaho ito ng mga bata to get to the quarterfinals and get the twice-to-beat advantage and we have to be thankful for that,” he said. “But we have to be ready to work harder kasi humihirap ng humihirap na talaga.”
The Fresh Fighters played their first game without last conference’s MVP Bobby Ray Parks, who is in the United States trying his luck in the NBA Summer League.
Jopher Custodio and Khasim Mirza both wound up with 17 points in a losing effort for MP Hotel, which remained at the cellar with a 1-7 card.
The Scores:
Hapee 87 – Dela Cruz 15, Adeogun 14, Newsone 13, Amer 11, Thompson 9, Rosario 6, Mendoza 6, Elorde 4, Villahermosa 3, Koga 2, Long 2, Sorela 2, Romero 0.
MP Hotel – Letran 81 – Custodio 17, Mirza 17, Nambatac 15, Cruz 9, Acidre 8, Quinto 5, Dela Pena 4, Masaglang 2, Colina 2, Mendoza 2, Apreku 0.
Quarters: 14-13, 34-39, 62-60, 87-81.