Rising Suns shatter Gems, sets up finals duel against Hapee
Cagayan’s Don Trollano eludes Cebuana’s Kevin Ferrer as he goes up for a shot. PBA Images/Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines-And the finals is set.
Shattering a seemingly impenetrable defense, Cagayan Rising Suns emptied the mines of the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems, 103-85, to secure the last finals spot of the 2015 PBA D-League Aspirant’s Cup Thursday afternoon at the Arena in San Juan.
Cagayan set up a dream finals match against powerhouse Hapee Fresh Fighters. Both teams ruled the eliminations with the Rising Suns notching the top seed with an 11-0 record and the Fresh Fighters at second with 10-1.
It was a heated battle between Cagayan and Cebuana from the opening whistle that resulted to a total of 56 fouls, not to mention the shoves and elbows that managed to elude the officiating crew.
Cagayan and Cebuana were tangled in a near stalemate early in the fourth quarter with the Rising Suns managing only a three-point bubble, 82-79.
A sudden wave of sun bursts eventually destroyed the Gems right after the five minute mark with Cagayan going on a 17-2 run to put the game beyond doubt, 101-81, before clinching the series at two games to one.
Don Trollano sparked the rally with a timely theft off Simon Enciso’s pass that led to a fastbreak layin at the 3:58 mark to give Cagayan a 91-81 lead.
Abel Galliguez followed it up with a booming triple to make it 94-81.
Not to be outdone, Moala Tautuaa jammed home Galliguez’ miss in the 2:40 mark to put Cagayan ahead 96-81 and send the men in maroon in a frenzy.
Cagayan head coach Alvin Pua said his team has to get hurt before tasting success.
“They have to get hurt first,” Pua said. “If that doesn’t happen, their feet get off the ground and they become cocky.”
Pua added that they are expecting a physical affair against Hapee, which in their eliminations game resulted to some hot heads.
“I expect the finals to be three times as physical,” Pua said.
Tautuaa led the charge for Cagayan with 22 points and eight rebounds while four other players scored in double figures.
Andrian Celada had 16, Celada and Galliguez pitched in 14 apiece and Ali Austria added 10 points.
Kevin Ferrer led Cebuana with 18 points and five boards.
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