Hapee five upends Gems, gains finals

HAPEE displayed remarkable grit in the final stretch to stun No. 1 Cebuana Lhuillier, 73-66, Monday and claim the last title berth in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at Ynares Sports Arena.

Ola Adeogun fired a game-high 20 points, highlighted by a seven-point cluster in a 10-2 Hapee run inside the final four minutes, and Art dela Cruz and Nico Elorde helped carry the fight for the undermanned Fresh Fighters.

“How we’re able to go through, it is a testament to the audacity of the players,” said Hapee coach Ronnie Magsanoc after his fourth-seeded Fresh Fighters edged the No. 1-ranked Gems, 2-1, in the best-of-three series.

“I felt the reason why our players were challenged is we faced a strong opponent, the strongest team this conference.”

Hapee, the Aspirants Cup champion, will battle first-time finalist Cafe France in a best-of-three championship series starting this Thursday.

Adeogun’s seven-point binge gave the Fresh Fighters a 69-63 advantage after trailing at 59-61.

Dela Cruz finished with 14 points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals.

The Fresh Fighters pulled off a series upset even minus national team players Troy Rosario, Baser Amer and Scottie Thompson and former MVPs Ray Parks (overseas) and Garvo Lanete (injury).

The Fresh Fighters led by as many as 11 points, 31-20, but the Gems got back into the fight behind Simon Enciso and a hurting Moala Tautuaa, who sustained an ankle injury in the second quarter.

The scores:
HAPEE 73—Adeogun 20, Dela Cruz 14, Elorde 12, Newsome 8, Long 6, Villahermosa 6, Romero 4, Koga 3, Mendoza 0, Sorela 0.
CEBUANA LHUILLIER 66—Enciso 18, Tautuaa 12, Mangahas A. 11, Zamar 8, Lopez 8, Sarangay 4, Van Opstal 4, Mangahas J. 1, Corpuz 0, Acosta 0, Cabrera 0, Bautista 0.
Quarters: 19-14, 33-26, 55-49, 73-66