Romero, Colina lead charge as Jumbo Plastic turns back Wangs

Mark Romero of JUMBO PLASTIC (dark) vs Ervic Vijandre of WANGS (light). PHOTO BY NUKI SABIO

MANILA, Philippines — Jumbo Plastic stepped on the pedal in the fourth quarter and zoomed past a gritty Wangs Basketball Club 75-59 Thursday in the 2013 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Blue Eagle Gym.

The Giants shrugged off a sluggish start and went on a 20-6 run in the payoff period for the clincher, after leading by only a bucket at the turn of the third quarter.

“We wanted to tire them out, but we couldn’t execute early. But when Wangs got tired later on, that’s when our advantage showed,” said head coach Steven Tiu in Filipino.

Jumbo Plastic, which moved to a franchise best start at 5-1, tried to fight off Wangs’ for good midway the third, but the newbie Couriers bounced back quickly.

“They played a good game. Very disciplined,” said Tiu.” We’re still working on our consistency since I want to make use of our entire line-up, but when the game is close like this I had to go to my veterans.”

Five players figured in double digits for Jumbo Plastic with Mark Romero and Jan Colina both leading with 14, Karl Dehesa with 12 and Jason Ballesteros and Elliot Tan with 11 apiece.

Colina and Ballesteros also grabbed 11 and 17 rebounds, respectively, a department where Jumbo Plastic had its biggest edge 59-39.

But the Couriers, in only their first conference in the league, certainly made a good account of themselves but just ran out of steam towards the end.

After pulling to within two, 53-55, at the end of third, they only managed a point in the next six minutes.

Michael Juico scattered 20 points for Wangs Basketball, while Bryan Ilad and Macky Acosta chipped in 14 and 10 markers, in that order.

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