Cafe France crashed into the championship round for the first time, but the Bakers will have to wait for an opponent as Cebuana Lhuillier forced a do-or-die match against Hapee in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena.
Samboy de Leon, Eloy Poligrates and Rodrigue Ebondo fueled the Bakers’ final push against Cagayan Valley for a 92-78 Game 2 victory that completed a 2-0 sweep of their semifinal series.
“The boys deserve it because of their hard work and everybody really wanted to win today,” said coach Egay Macaraya after his Bakers reached the Finals for the first time since joining the league as a pioneering member in 2011.
The No. 1 Gems, though, averted an upset in their own series with a 76-73 escape over the Fresh Fighters.
Allan Mangahas powered the Gems with a league record 40 points, the last on a floater that gave them a 74-73 edge with 64 seconds left. Mangahas shot 68 percent from the field.
Game 3 is set at 3 p.m. on Monday.
The scores:
First Game
CAFE FRANCE 92—De Leon 23, Poligrates 22, Ebondo 17, Ahanmisi 10, Cortez 10, Abundo 4, Galanza 2, Sedurifa 2, Andrada 2, Miranda 0, Noble 0, Batino 0.
CAGAYAN VALLEY 78—Galliguez 14, Salamat 12, Celada 12, Flores 8, Mabulac 8, Magat 8, Trollano 7, Rogado 5, Austria 2, Santos 2, Dilay 0, Melano 0, Tayongtong 0.
Quarters: 21-14, 42-35, 61-55, 92-78
Second Game
C. LHUILLIER 76—Mangahas A. 40, Tautuaa 10, Zamar 8, Lopez 7, Corpuz 4, Sarangay 3, Enciso 2, Acosta 2, Cabrera 0, Mangahas J. 0, Van Opstal 0.
HAPEE 73—Adeogun 25, Newsome 15, Villahermos 13, Mendoza 8, Elorde 5, Koga 3, Sorela 2, Dela Cruz 2, Long 0, Gamboa 0, Romero 0.
Quarters: 22-23, 41-38, 57-55, 76-73