Former UE star fires 58 points

AMA Online’s James Martinez soars for two of his record D-League total in yesterday’s game. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

PHOENIX completed the mission it set out to do but it was a spitfire from a team a couple of rungs lower in the standings that stole the limelight in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup yesterday.

James Martinez exploded for a record 58 points to power the Titans past Topstar ZC Mindanao, 125-76, in a battle of also-ran squads at JCSGO Gym in Cubao.

A former standout guard from University of the East, Martinez eclipsed by nearly 20 points the previous scoring record held by Phoenix standout Mac Belo.

“If not for coach Mark (Herrera), I wouldn’t be able to do that,” said Martinez. “He trusts me so much, so I just repaid his trust.”

Belo, Far Eastern University’s star forward, erupted for 41 points in the Accelerators’ loss to Caida Tiles, 108-91, last Feb. 15.

Martinez, who knocked in a total of 10 triples, unloaded a whopping 31 of the Titans’ 44 points in the fourth quarter.

“When we found out that my score was already at 40, coach Mark and my teammates encouraged me to shoot,” said Martinez. “My teammates just kept giving me the ball.”

Belo wasn’t too far away from the site where his record fell. A few moments after Martinez torched the nets, Belo dropped 23 points as the Accelerators rolled past Blustar Detergent, 108-83, to stay in hunt for the semifinal bonus.

The Accelerators improved to 8-3 to stay within striking distance of leaders Racal (9-2) and Cafe France (8-2) in the race for the top two, which comes with a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four. With a report from Philip Martin Matel

The scores:

First Game

AMA 125—Martinez 58, Taganas 13, Montemayor 10, Jordan 9, Macaranas 9, Asuncion 8, McCarthy 7, Bragais 4, Calma 4, Ortega 3, Arambulo 0, Belleza 0, Carpio 0, Dizon 0, Montemayor 0.

TOPSTAR ZC MINDANAO 76—Jumao-as 19, Cawaling 16, Garcia 12, Ongteco 7, Argamino 6, Tano 6, Julkipli 5, Rivera 3, Dadjilul 2, Ignacio 0, Onde 0, Roño 0, Santos 0, Sarangay 0.
Quarters: 19-19, 49-40, 81-64, 125-76

Second Game

PHOENIX 108—Belo 23, Daquioag 17, Tamsi 14, Escoto 12, Tolomia 12, Iñigo 10, Jamito 8, Mendoza 6, Pogoy 4, Andrada 1, Knuttel 1, Batino 0, Colino 0, Pascual 0.

BLUSTAR 83—Tiongson 26, Yeo 21, Kuek 11, Gan 8, Yim 5, Choo H. 4, Choo Y. 4, Ong 4, Mak 2, Palma 2, Liaw 0, Ma 0, Teo 0, Ting 0, Wong 0.
Quarters: 24-10, 50-38, 79-58, 108-83