BORACAY Rum boosted its bid for a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals when it defeated Café France, 55-50, on Tuesday in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Blue Eagle Gym.
The Waves climbed into a share of third place with Café France with a 5-3 win-loss card and gained headway in a crowded middle of the pack as the race for slots in the playoffs intensifies.
“Big win talaga ito,” said Boracay Rum head coach Lawrence Chongson. “I’ve been preaching this for weeks. We are coming off a 15-day break.”
“This (win) does not assure us of anything. But if we lost this game, more or less nasa grave na kami. Kaya yun ang battlecry namin,” Chongson said.
Boracay Rum’s win also allowed NLEX to occupy solo second with a 5-2 win-loss card.
The top two teams will advance to the semifinals outright while the next four teams move into the quarterfinals. The third and fourth ranked teams will get twice-to-beat advantages in the quarters.
Toto Bandaying had 12 points, Jaymo Eguilos had eight points and eight rebounds, hitting a jumper to beat the shotclock at the one-minute, 20-second mark of the game.
That basket gave the Waves a 53-48 lead after the Bakers cut the deficit to three points.
Café France shot 24.3 percent.
The scores:
Boracay Rum (55) – Bandaying 12, Eguilos 8, Taha 7, Pasculado 6, Ilagan 6, Sabellina 5, Viernes 4, Rosopa 4, Acibar 3, Fernandez 0, Arellano 0, Tagarda 0, Siruma 0.
Café France (50) – Lopez 11, Knuttel 9, Rogado 6, Silungan 5, Magat 5, Parala 4, Gallardo 3, Magbitang 3, Batino 2, Maconocido 2, Abundo 0.
Quarterscores: 10-10; 27-27; 44-41; 55-50.
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