JK Casiño heated up in the final stretch as CafeFrance eliminated AMA Online Education, 86-70, in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City on Thursday.
Casiño shot three three-pointers and a jumper in the final five minutes, sparking a furious 17-2 surge that gave Cafe France a comfortable 76-66 cushion.
The Cafe France sniper scored 20 points, 14 coming in the payoff quarter alone, as he finished behind Rodrique Ebondo (25 points) in the scoring parade.
Carl Cruz added 21 markers for the Bakers, who now share the top spot with Racal on identical 8-2 win-loss records. Racal is taking on Tanduay Rhum Masters as of posting time.
"We did practice hard para maka-recover kami (from a one-point loss to Tanduay), but I'm wrong. Walang energy ngayon mga players," said CafeFrance coach Egay Macaraya, whose team engaged AMA in a nip-and-tuck contest before pulling away late in the fourth period.
Cafe France also ended the Final Four hopes of the Titans, who fell to 3-6.
Rashawn McCarthy paced the Titans with game-high 28 points.
The scores:
CAFE FRANCE 86 - Ebondo 25, Cruz 21, Casino 20, Zamar 7, Manlangit 5, Abundo 4, Jeruta 2, Parala 2, Anunciacion 0, Arim 0, Custodio 0, Opiso 0.
AMA 70 - McCarthy 28, Martinez 15, Ortega 8, Jordan 6, Arambulo 4, Jo. Montemayor 4, Asuncion 3, Taganas 2, Belleza 0, Bragais 0, Macaranas 0, Je. Montemayor 0.
Quarters: 25-20, 45-44, 54-55, 86-70.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
