JK Casino. PBA IMAGES
Cafe France rode the hot hand of JK Casino late for an 86-70 win, booting AMA Online Education out of the Final Four contention Thursday in the 2016 PBA D-League Foundation Cup at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
With the Titans holding a 64-59 edge midway in the fourth, Casino drilled back-to-back treys to spark the 17-2 run for the Bakers for a 76-66 lead late.
“Alam naman natin na shooter talaga si JK. Sa team naman namin, everybody can shoot and today was JK’s day. Thankful lang kami na na-save nya kami lahat,” said coach Egay Macaraya.
Casino dropped 20 points on a 6-of-11 shooting from three, alongside five rebounds and five assists.
Rod Ebondo topped Cafe France with 25 markers, 14 boards, and two blocks, while Carl Bryan Cruz tallied 21 points and eight rebounds.
The Bakers victory also completed the Final Four cast, with Cafe France, Racal, Phoenix, and Tanduay all focused on playoff positioning.
AMA saw its confidence-boosting two-game winning streak come to screeching halt, falling out of race with a 3-6 record.
Rashawn McCarthy topped the Titans with 28 points, five rebounds, and five assists, while James Martinez had 15 markers, four boards, and three assists in the defeat.
The Scores:
CAFE FRANCE 86 – Ebondo 25, Cruz 21, Casino 20, Zamar 7, Manlangit 5, Abundo 4, Jeruta 2, Parala 2, Anunciacion 0, Arim 0, Custodio 0, Opiso 0.
AMA 70 – McCarthy 28, Martinez 15, Ortega 8, Jordan 6, Arambulo 4, Jo. Montemayor 4, Asuncion 3, Taganas 2, Belleza 0, Bragais 0, Macaranas 0, Je. Montemayor 0.
Quarters: 25-20, 45-44, 54-55, 86-70.