BLACKWATER’S Gio Ciriacruz is fouled on the way to the basket by Erikson Gatchalian of Cagayan Rising Suns. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Kelly Nabong got Blackwater Sports back in fighting form as the Elite ripped the Cagayan Rising Suns, 106-82, to nail a quarterfinal berth in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup yesterday at San Juan Gym.
Nabong, returning from a one-game suspension, buried 14 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, while AJ Mandani topscored with 18 points.
“We just wanted discipline on the court offensively and defensively,” said coach Leo Isaac after the Elite claimed solo fourth with a 5-3 mark. “Coming from two losses, we wanted to bounce back.”
Junior Powerade stalled RnW Pacific Pipes’ own quarterfinal bid with an 87-79 upset in overtime in the second game.
Claude Cubo forged the extra period with a layup with 3.5 seconds left in regulation, before Alvin Padilla took charge by drilling seven of his game-high 19 points in overtime.
“We wanted to go out on a bright note,” said coach Ricky Dandan after his Tigers bowed out with a 3-6 record. “We knew we could beat RnW. We just rode our momentum going in the overtime.”
The Steel Masters fell to fifth at 4-4.
Blackwater took the fight out of the Rising Suns early with a hot 13-2 start as Gio Ciriacruz (15 points), Jeric Fortuna (14 points) and Clark Bautista (11 points) also sizzled. With a report from Randolph B. Leongson, Contributor
The scores:
First Game
BLACKWATER 106—Mandani 18, G. Ciriacruz 15, Nabong 14, Fortuna 14, Bautista 11, Pascual 8, Zamar 7, Jeffries 7, Celiz 6, Camus 2, I. Ciriacruz 2, Montemayor 2, Lo 0.
CAGAYAN 82—Melano 25, Arce 16, Bulangis 9, Villanil 9, Agas 8, Lao 6, Cortes 2, Eman 2, Gatchalian 2, Chiu 2, Macuha 1, Custodio 0, Lapuz 0.
Quarters: 27-14, 45-25, 76-57, 106-82
Second Game
JR. POWERADE 87—Padilla 19, Silungan 15, Gamboa 13, Hipolito 11, Cubo 11, Lopez 8, Manuel 4, Juruena 3, Escueta 3, Gingerich 0.
RNW 79—Aguilar 16, Teng 15, Rogado 12, Buensuceso 12, Colina 7, Ilagan 7, Gonzales 5, Pe 2, Acidre 2, Sanvictores 1, Elinon 0, Antonio 0, Delgado 0.
Quarters: 24-16, 38-31, 49-53, 72-72 (reg), 87-79 (OT)