PBA D-League: Waves blow 15-point lead but hold on to beat Cagayan

Boracay Rum squandered a 15-point lead but managed to escaper with a 67-65 win over Cagayan on Tuesday in the 2012 PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Trinity University Gym.

 

The Waves survived the Rising Suns' comeback bid to hike their win-loss record to 2-3. "The players have yet to mature," said Boracay Rum assistant coach Ernesto Ballesteros. "The boys lost their composure and focus, we couldn't execute our system in the end game."

 

Ken Acibar had 16 points while Joseph Abaya and Toto Bandaying scored 10 markers each for the Waves.

 

The Rising Suns remained winless after five games and their match against the Waves was the closest that they got in getting a win.

The Waves held a 15-point third quarter lead, 53-38, but failed to put Cagayan away for good as the Rising Suns moved within one, 64-63, on Roger Malig-on's twinner. Cagayan failed to complete its comeback as it allowed Koko Hermosisima to bury a three-pointer at the other end to hike Boracay's lead to four, 67-63. James Castro pegged the final tally with a lay-up. In the second game, Erase Plantcenta trounced Junior Powerade, 81-69, to end a two-game slide. Allan Mangahas had 21 points while Jet Vidal added 19 as the Erasers improved to 2-3 to tie their victims and the Boracay Rum Waves.  

"After back-to-back defeats, I told the boys that we have to give our best effort in this game and I'm happy that they responded well," said Erase Plantcenta coach Yong Garcia.

 

June Dizon, in his first game for the Erasers after being released by Big Chill, also had a big outing with 20 points and six rebounds while Jayvee Ferreria added 10 points and five rebounds.

 

Kapuso star Ervic Vijandre saw action for Erase Plantcenta scoring two points and grabbing one rebound in five minutes of play. — JVP, GMA News Scores: