Cafe France Bakers. PBA IMAGES
Café France rose from a 24-point deficit to put down Caida, 90-87, and stay unscathed after four games in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena.
Caida had a 52-28 lead in the second quarter but it was all for naught as the Bakers came alive in the fourth quarter, going for a 13-2 run to establish an 80-73 lead.
Brian Cruz gave the Bakers a 90-86 lead off a fallaway jumper with 1:10 remaining in the game .
Chris Javier then split his free throws from the line with 34.1 seconds remaining to cut Caida’s deficit to three, 90-87, but Philip Paniamogan missed two chances to tie the game as the game clock expired.
Café France head coach Edgar Macaraya knew how to motivate his players going into the second half, and that’s by getting angry at them.
“Well ganito ka simple yan, galit ako sa mga bata kasi nangyari mostly they just want to win a game in one position [offense], at di pwede yun,” Macaraya said as they seize solo leadership. “Kailangan naming dumepensa at dahan dahan lang then nakita namin sa third quarter yung offense.”
Café France outscored Caida 27-11 in the penultimate quarter to draw the line at 67-67 entering the fourth.
Cruz finished with 26 points, converting four-of-four shots from the three-point arc, to lead Café France while new Baker Paul Zamar added 25 points.
Rey Nambatac had a near triple-double for the 3-1 Tile Masters finishing with a 13-points, nine-rebound, seven-assist line.