Cafe France bucks slow start to complete PBA D-League semis cast

Aron Jeruta of Cafe France (dark) vs Giovani Jalalon of Breadstory (light). PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines — Cafe France recovered from a slow start to fend off a pesky Bread Story side, 81-68, on Monday and make its first-ever semifinals appearance in the 2015 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

With his team down by as much as 12, 36-24, midway through the second quarter, it wasn’t the kind of start Bakers head coach Egay Macaraya was expecting in a do-or-die match. But it didn’t take long for his players to respond to the challenge.

“We had a slow start but fortunately we were able to bounce back,” said Macaraya. “Their guards killed us in our last game but our guards were able to step up this time after I challenged them.”

Starting guard Aaron Jeruta topscored with 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field, while Cameroonian center Rod Ebondo played through a hurting hamstring to contribute 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocks off the bench.

“He is slightly bothered with a hamstring injury and we’re not rushing him,” Macaraya said of Ebondo, who played for 19 minutes. “He is a big factor for our team.”

The Bakers had a big second half to put the game away after a seesaw battle in the first two and a half quarters of the game.

The win set best-of-three semifinals duel between Cafe France and No. 2 Hapee, which starts on Thursday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. The Fresh Fighters beat the Bakers, 70-55, in their only elimination round meeting last Dec. 15.

“When we played against Hapee, the boys fought for two quarters only and that’s the problem. Against Hapee, we should play for four quarters and everybody should step up,” said Macaraya, who is looking to expand his rotation to try and match up with the Fresh Fighters’ depth.

“Our goal is to make the semis and now that we’re here why not go for the gold? The boys are eager to get back at Hapee.”

The Pirates, who dragged the Bakers to a knockout game with a 79-72 victory last Thursday, went just 1-of-9 from the three-point area while their opponents sank 10 3-pointers with Jeruta burying four.