FCA 5 stuns Maynilad; NLEX scores

MANILA, Philippines - Alfredo Gerilla scored 15 points and Alan Husted hit two triples in the fourth quarter as the FCA Cultivators stunned the Maynilad Water Dragons, 77-67, in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the JCSGO gym yesterday.

The Cultivators rode on a big third quarter run to overcome a seven-point deficit and turn back the Water Dragons for their second straight victory after dropping a 58-80 blowout loss to the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems two weeks ago.

“We had a good start but lost our focus in the second quarter when Maynilad made a run. But my players responded well in the second half,” said FCA coach Arsenio Dysangco.

Clifford Hodge scored on a three-point play in the dying seconds as NLEX snatched an 88-87 victory over PC Gilmore in the other game.

Hodge, receiving a pass from John Raymundo, hit the shot underneath with a foul to boot, lifting the Road Warriors to the come-from-behind win, their third in four games in Group A.

PC Gilmore dropped to 2-2.

After Maynilad’s Garvo Lanete tied the game at 57, Alex Mallari and Husted buried back-to-back triples and Gerilla completed a three-point play to give FCA a nine-point lead.

Lanete, who led all scorers with 21 points, scored on a layup in the ensuing play but Husted countered with another triple to make it a 10-point game. Husted and Mallari wound up with 13 points apiece.

Jose Lim finished with 10 points for Maynilad, which slid to 2-2.

Maynilad struggled in the first quarter but clawed back in the next with Lanete on the firing end and the Cultivators struggling in the face of the Water Dragons’ physical game.

Maynilad surged to a 49-42 bulge in the third quarter but the Water Dragons lost their rhythm and fell into a maze of errors, enabling the Cultivators to strike back and take charge.