CAFÉ France enhanced its playoff hopes on Monday when it stunned Hog’s Breath Café, 81-58, for its fourth straight win in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at the Trinity University of Asia gym.
The Bakers put up a huge lead early and cruised to their seventh win in 10 outings, while dealing Hog’s Breath its second straight loss (7-2) after going unbeaten at the start of the conference.
Café France coach Egay Macaraya downplayed the win, saying they caught Hog’s Breath on an off-game.
“Maganda ang shooting namin, sila masama,” Macaraya said.
Cafe France shot 46.6 percent compared to Hog’s Breath’s 23.3 clip.
Still, Macaraya said the victory is a big boost going into the Christmas break as it improves their chance of making it to the six-team playoffs.
“I think medyo maganda ang chance namin pero we have to beat the strong teams,” said Macaraya, whose team still has Blackwater Sports and NLEX in their schedule next month.
Café France zoomed to a double-digit lead in first quarter after a 14-4 start. The Bakers continued to pound the Razorbacks and even posted an 81-55 lead late in the fourth frame.
Mac Montilla led Café France’s balanced scoring attack with 12 points, while Rod Ebondo added 10 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks. Alfred Batino had 10 points. New recruit Jam Cortes had nine points and eight rebounds in his debut with the Bakers after a stint with Arellano-Air21 earlier this conference.
The loss by Hog’s Breath propelled idle NLEX to second place with a 4-1 record. Big Chill leads with a 9-1 record.
The scores:
Café France (81) – Montilla 12, Ebondo 10, Batino 10, Sedurifa 9, Cortes 9, Abundo 9, Mutombo 6, Jamon 6, Nimes 6, Gallardo 4, De Leon 0, Saranga 0.
Hog’s Breath Café (58) – Ruaya 12, Rios 12, Gabawan 10, Racal 9, Belorio 5, Paniamogan 3, Austria 2, Sanga 2, Bartolo 2, Bercede 1, Robles 0, Terso 0.
Quarterscores: 17-8, 35-24, 62-44, 81-58.
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