PBA IMAGES
Gamboa Coffee Mix-St. Clare rode its hot start and dealt rival Centro Escolar University a shock 100-83 defeat Thursday in the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
After the Scorpions’ 7-0 start, the Coffee Lovers got down to work and unleashed a 27-8 flurry to establish a 27-15 first quarter lead and never looked back, even taking a 29-point lead, 93-64 with 3:52 remaining in the game.
“It was our defense which really dictated the tempo of the game,” said coach Jinino Manansala.
Chris Bitoon led the balanced attack for Gamboa-St. Clare with 19 points, five assists, and four rebounds off the bench as it nabbed back-to-back wins and rose to a 5-3 slate.
Fil-Am guard Trevis Jackson collected 18 markers and three dimes, Aris Dionisio tallied 15 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks, and Malian big man Mohammed Pare unleashed 14 markers, 17 boards, and three steals in the comfortable win for the Coffee Lovers.
Manansala is hoping the win fuels Gamboa-St. Clare to work harder for its dream of advancing to the playoffs and even holding twice-to-beat advantage.
“We still have three games and we want those three or four spots,” he said.
CEU suffered only its second defeat to drop to 7-2.
Art Aquino poured 16 points and six rebounds for the Scorpions, who sat Rod Ebondo for the remaining three quarters as the Congolese big man nursed a back injury.
The Scores:
GAMBOA COFFEE MIX-ST. CLARE 100 — Bitoon 19, Jackson 18, Rebugio 16, Dionisio 15, Pare 14, Hallare 11, Alcober 3, Fontanilla 2, Rubio 2, Decano 0, Penaredondo 0.
CEU 83 — Aquino 16, Caballero 12, Fuentes 10, Guinitaran 8, Veron 8, Uri 7, Ebondo 6, Arim 4, Opiso 4, Wamar 4, Cruz 2, Manlangit 2, Saber 0.
Quarters: 27-15, 51-32, 78-52, 100-83.