Lester Alvarez. PBA IMAGES
Banking on its experience, Tanduay whipped the youthful Centro Escolar University squad, 75-60, to chalk one in the win column Tuesday in the 2017 PBA D-League Foundation Cup at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Lester Alvarez commandeered the Rhum Masters with 16 points and five assists, while Adrian Santos missed out on a double-double with 16 markers and nine rebounds.
Paul Varilla also got 11 points and five boards in the victory.
Coach Lawrence Chongson was happy after his veterans finally stepped up to the plate after Tanduay’s humiliating 89-63 defeat to Cignal HD last Thursday.
“I got a team full of veterans so they need to really step up. I felt that it’s where we lacked last game, where our veterans didn’t deliver. That game really humiliated us,” he said. “Hopefully, that will be our battlecry. We’re slowly getting to where we want to be.”
The Rhum Masters used a 30-point third quarter explosion to break away, 60-42, before fending off a belated rally from the Scorpions in the final three minutes of the game to secure their breakthrough victory.
Rod Ebondo paced the still-winless CEU (0-2) with 20 points and 14 rebounds, while JK Casiño had 11 markers and three assists in the defeat.
The Scores:
TANDUAY 75 – Alvarez 16, Santos 16, Varilla 11, Taganas 8, Vigil 6, Palma 6, Terso 5, Eguilos 3, Sollano 2, Tambeling 2.
CEU 60 – Ebondo 20, Casiño 11, Manlangit 8, Wamar 7, Cruz 5, Aquino 4, Uri 3, Guinitaran 2, Jeruta 0, Intic 0, Arim 0, Saber 0, Baconcon 0.
Quarters: 13-12, 30-28, 60-42, 75-60.