Reyes late treys power Junior Tigers past Elite

MANILA, Philippines – Mikee Reyes took charge in the fourth quarter as Junior Powerade rallied to surprise Blackwater Sports, 84-79, while Erase Plantcenta dominated Cagayan, 90-68, in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Reyes hit back-to-back triples at the onset of the fourth as the Junior Tigers, who trailed from the first quarter, turned a 59-62 deficit into a three-point lead which they never relinquished the rest of the way.

Reyes finished with 18 points, the same output turned in by Claude Cubo while Mike Silungan and Alvin Padilla added 16 and 11 points, respectively, for the Tigers, who played with just 10 men following injuries to Jett Manuel and Mark Juruena. 

“Before the game I told the boys we will be playing undermanned but we’ll never be outfought,” said Jr Powerade coach Ricky Dandan.

The Tigers also shackled the Elite with a swarming defense in the fourth period, forcing 11 turnovers en route to victory.

Kelly Nabong scored 14 points and had 14 rebounds while Paul Zamar and Robby Celis also put in 14 markers apiece for Blackwater Sports, which dropped to 1-1.

Earlier, Mark Acosta sizzled with 26 points and Jett Vidal had 25 markers as Erasers led from start to finish to clobber the Cagayan Rising Suns. 

Acosta went 10 of 13 from the field, including 6 of 7 from behind the arc to spark the Erasers’ attack.

“We executed well on defense and ran our offense smoothly,” said Erase Plantcenta coach Yong Garcia.

Cagayan clobbered Erase Plantcenta off the boards, 63-44. But the Erasers pounced on the Rising Suns miscues, scoring 18 points off turnovers.

Cagayan also shot poorly, making just 29 percent (23 of 78) from the field.

Mark Sarangay scored 12 points and Anthony del Rio made nine assists for Erase Plantcenta, which bounce back from a 57-74 defeat to Café France last