PASIG CITY – It was definitely worth the wait as top rookie draft pick Moala Tautuaa finally joined the Cagayan Valley Rising Suns and powered them to their fourth straight win in as many games, 89-84, in double overtime against erstwhile undefeated CaféFrance Bakers Thursday (November) at the resumption of the 2014-2015 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena. The wide-bodied 6’6” Tautuaa had to finish his playing obligations in Malaysia thus forcing him to sit out the Rising Suns’ first three victories.
While all eyes were on the newcomer, his teammates came away with the crucial shots to deliver the win. Alli Austria hit a running triple with less than a second to go to force the second extension, 67-67, followed by the 10-point explosion of Abel Galliguez to seal the deal.
Austria’s triple was upheld by the referees after a video replay amidst contentions by the opposition that he stepped on the line. The Bakers though had a chance to win but Rodrigue Ebondo failed to convert on a perfectly executed inbound lob pass towards the goal.
The Rising Suns then scored the first eight points in the second overtime, capped by a rare four-point play by Galliguez followed by another of his baskets for an 84-76 count. The Bakers would counter with triples by Jonar Huertas and Joseph Sedurifa but both of these were quickly neutralized by timely scores by Galliguez.
In regulation play, Cagayan Valley enjoyed leads as big as 13 markers late in the third canto, 47-34. However, the Bakers went on an 18-2 tear spanning the third and fourth periods to grab back the upper hand, 52-49. Michael Mabulac, Randy Dilay and Tautuaa then answered with a 12-0 burst of their own with Tautuaa displaying his range with a triple for a 61-52 tally.
“The play here is more physical than I thought but it is also fun,” said Tautuaa whose mother, the former Romanita del Valle of Taguig City, watched at courtside. “Someone pushed me from behind so I have to prepare for that next time.”
Tautuaa finished with 26 points, seven rebounds and three assists in 40 minutes of play. Dilay backstopped him with 13 points, eight made in the fourth canto.
Jonar Huertas paced the Bakers with 19 points and seven rebounds. Sedurifa followed with three triples as part of his 15 total points.
The day’s other games were blowouts. The Cebuana Lhuillier Gems halted the Tanduay Light Rhum Masters, 77-57, while Jumbo Plastic Linoleum Giants plastered Wang’s Basketball, 81-65.
The Giants and Bakers ended up tied for Third and Fourth Place with 3-1 win-loss cards. A game behind are the Gems and Wang’s at 2-2 while Tanduay made it a six-way logjam with five other teams at 1-5 for Seventh to 12th Place.
The Rising Suns and idle Hapee Fresh Fighters share the top spot at 4-0 as the only undefeated entries. If both maintain their winning ways, it will add a lot of color to their clash on the penultimate day of the elimination phase on January 22, 2015 at the Ynares Sports Arena.
How They Scored:
First Game
CEBUANA LHUILLIER (77) – Villahermosa 14, Ferrer 13, A. Mangahas 11, Torres 10, Enciso 7, Vosotros 7, Guinto 5, Lopez 4, J. Mangahas 3, Sarangay 2, Arellano 1, Acibar 0, Canlas 0.
TANDUAY LIGHT (57) – Sumang 11, Jumao-as 8, Ignacio 7, Ilagan 6, Tagarda 5, Escueta 5, Mandani 4, de Leon 4, Foronda 4, Banal 3, Santos 0, Belencion 0, Rono 0.
Period Scores: 17-11, 38-23, 63-39, 77-57.
Second Game
CAGAYAN VALLEY (89) – Tautuaa 26, Dilay 13, Galliguez 12, Austria 11, Mabulac 10, Salamat 5, Olayon 4, Celada 3, Tayongtong 3, Trollano 2, Capacio 0, Flores 0, Melano 0.
CAFÉFRANCE (84) – Huertas 19, Sedurifa 15, Ahanmisi 13, Ebondo 13, Abundo 7, Andrada 6, Cortes 4, Galanza 3, Jeruta 2, Batino 2, Habelito 0, de Leon 0, Noble 0.
Period Scores: 13-18, 31-30, 47-43, 67-67 (reg.), 76-76 (OT), 89-84 (2OT).
Third Game
JUMBO PLASTIC (81) – Villamor 17, Sabellina 16, Cruz 9, Maiquez 9, Javier 8, Rios 7, Rosales 6, Terso 6, Magat 2, Eguilos 1, King 0, Petilos 0.
WANG’S BASKETBALL (65) – Juico 17, Acidre 13, Acosta 11, Montuano 6, Mendoza 5, Rosopa 4, Pontejos 3, Miranda 3, Vijandre 2, Importante 1, Acuna 0, Montemayor 0, Arambulo 0, Lina 0.
Period Scores: 12-11, 32-29, 62-44, 81-65.
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