NEWCOMER Flying V got a taste of the level of competition in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup and scored a morale-boosting win, turning back Racal, 75-69, in a tuneup game in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup on Wednesday in San Juan.
Jeron Teng starred for the Thunder with 25 points, six rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block.
Teng dropped five straight points inside the final four minutes to give the team a 70-63 buffer, which proved to be enough to keep Racal at bay until the final buzzer.
The D-League Foundation Cup opens on May 25.
Gab Banal put up a double-double outing of 10 points and 10 rebounds and had four assists.
Despite the victory over the Aspirants' Cup finalists, Flying V coach Eric Altamirano insisted Flying V are still a work in progress.
"Obviously we're still adjusting. The players really had a hard time adjusting lalo sa calls dahil we used D-League referees," said Altamirano.
"Overall I think we are still a work in progress. We are not yet cohesive. But it's a good experience playing against a D-League finalist."
Allan Mangahas showed the way for Racal with 13 points and six rebounds.
The scores:
Flying V 75 — Teng 25, Banal 10, Salamat 8, Ongteco 8, Colina 6, Torres 4, Tampus 4, Webb, 4, Thiele 4, Mendoza 2, Canada 0.
Racal 69 — Mangahas 13, Grimaldo 9, Dela Cruz 8, Ayon AYon 7, Cabrera 7, Apreku 5, Tallo 5, Gumaru 4, Lozada 3, Oruoste 3, Cortes 3, Capaio 2, Oktubre 0, Bulawan 0.
Quarterscores: 23-17; 39-41; 59-55; 75-69.
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