Abel Galliguez. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Without head coach Alvin Pua, Cagayan Gerry’s showed that it can still compete at a high level by nipping Cebuana Lhuillier, 102-95, Monday in the 2015 PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Motivated by their coach’s absence after being banned from the sidelines, the Rising Suns edged their bitter rival Gems and held on despite the rampaging comeback bid from Cebuana in the fourth quarter.
READ: PBA D-League: Cagayan Valley coach banned for life, fined P500K
A no-look assist from Abel Galliguez to the streaking Don Trollano in the baseline put the game away, 100-95, with 18.8 seconds left.
Trollano went 4-of-8 from behind the arc as he captained Cagayan’s victory with 25 points and seven rebounds.
“Everytime na Cebuana ang kalaban, ginaganahan ako. Nacha-challenge ako kasi halos lahat, star dun at magpapa-draft silang lahat,” said the former Adamson Falcon.
Michael Mabulac also shone bright with his huge double-double effort by going for 22 markers and 17 rebounds.
Galliguez also was stellar in the win, posting 16 points, dishing nine assists, and hauling down four boards.
“Coach Alvin challenged us this whole week. We wanted to have advantage in our fastbreaks and get our running game going, get us in a good position to win, and we executed that well,” said the playmaker.
The win gave the Rising Suns the third seed in the quarterfinals with a 6-3 slate, while the Gems remained as the top seed despite falling to their second straight defeat.
Norbert Torres led Cebuana with his 23 points and 17 boards while Moala Tautuaa got 18 markers and 12 rebounds in his first game against his old squad.
Simon Enciso also had 18 points in the loss.
The Scores:
Cagayan Gerry’s 102 – Trollano 25, Mabulac 22, Galliguez 16, Melano 11, Salamat 10, Dilay 8, Celada 5, Tayongtong 3, Magat 2, Austria 0, Flores 0, Santos 0, Rogado 0.
Cebuana Lhuillier 95 – Torres 23, Tautuaa 18, Enciso 18, Zamar 14, Cabrera 11, J. Mangahas 6, Corpuz 5, A. Mangahas 0, Vosotros 0, Bautista 0, Van Opstal 0.
Quarters: 21-29, 49-38, 72-68, 102-95.