PBA IMAGES
Tanduay moved a win away from clinching a top four seat in the 2016 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup after escaping BDO-NU, 83-81, Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena.
“Malaking bagay ito kasi one loss nga, I don’t think makakapasok pa kami sa top four. Hopefully, something like this will keep us on our toes, that no lead is safe and not take anybody lightly,” said coach Lawrence Chongson. “BDO-NU pushed us to the wall. Buti nakalusot pa rin.”
Val Acuna led the Rhum Masters with 14 points on a 3-of-6 shooting from three, while Reden Celda had 11 markers and six rebounds.
Rudy Lingganay and JP Belencion also had 10 points apiece in the win.
At 5-2, the Rhum Masters still have to beat Phoenix-FEU on Monday, or hope for a UP QRS/JAM Liner defeat to AMA next Thursday to claim a twice-to-beat spot in the quarterfinals.
BDO-NU staged a second half fightback, trimming Tanduay’s 29-point edge, 57-28, in the third to just two after a split from the line from Alfred Aroga with 18.6 seconds left. The Bulldogs forced a turnover in the ensuing possession, but J-Jay Alejandro threw the ball out of bounds in the last 3.2 ticks. He would then atone for his miscue, stealing the ball on the inbounds play, but Matt Salem missed on his potential game-winning three at the buzzer.
“We’ll take it, although admittedly, ang sama ng second half namin. I warned them of being complacent. Isang iglap, naubos agad sa third quarter, beterano pa naman yung mga nasa loob,” said Chongson.
Alejandro captained BDO-NU in the failed uprising with 19 points, while Aroga got a double-double of 18 markers and 17 rebounds. Mohammad Salim also chimed in 16 in the loss, which brought the Bulldogs down to 1-5.
The Scores:
TANDUAY 83 – Acuna 14, Celda 11, Belencion 10, Lingganay 10, Wetherell 9, Llagas 8, Gotladera 6, Javillonar 6, Pessumal 5, Santos 4, Tagarda 0.
BDO-NU 81 – Alejandro 19, Aroga 18, Salim 16, Perez 7, Yu 7, Diputado 4, Javelona 4, Salem 4, Labing-isa 2, Rono 0, Tansingco 0.
Quarters: 30-15, 59-32, 68-58, 83-81.