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Robbie Manalang remained a force to reckon with as AMA Online Education finally ended its drought after holding off Batangas-EAC, 96-93, for its first win in the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup Monday at JCSGO Gym in Cubao.
Manalang, the former Adamson playmaker, continued to sizzle in his second game for the Titans, finishing with a conference-high 40 points on 8-of-16 shooting from three in a game where coach Mark Herrera unveiled his new recruits in hopes of ending their dry spell.
James Martinez marked his AMA return with 18 markers, Genmar Bragais poured 17 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, and Rocky Antonares had 12 markers and 12 boards in the win as new signees Arvin Tolentino and Kyles Lao made their debut for the club.
The Titans, however, almost lost the game after leading by as much as 28 points as Cedric de Joya, Cedric Ablaza, and Jerome Garcia helped the Generals fight back and trim the deficit to as low as two, 95-93 in the final 11.0 seconds.
Martinez could only muster a split from the foul line to keep the door open for Batangas-EAC in the last 9.9 ticks, but Earvin Mendoza and Garcia both muffed their attempts to force overtime.
“Maybe the players just got tired,” said coach Mark Herrera. “But we got players who can score. At least now, we have options where we can go in our games.”
AMA Online Education improved to 1-3, while Batangas-EAC suffered its fourth straight defeat.
De Joya led the Generals with 21 points, Ablaza added a double-double of 17 markers and 12 boards, while Garcia got 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists in the loss.
The Scores:
AMA ONLINE EDUCATION 96 — Manalang 40, Martinez 18, Bragais 17, Antonares 12, Tolentino 6, Lao 3, Escalambre 0, Garcia 0, Jordan 0, Matillano 0, Porter 0.
BATANGAS-EAC 93 — De Joya 21, Ablaza 17, Garcia 15, E. Mendoza 11, Diego 10, Laude 6, Bautista 4, Dela Peña 3, Maguliano 2, J. Mendoza 2, Tampoc 2, Martin 0, Neri 0.
Quarters: 26-8, 52-26, 71-58, 96-93.