Bakers topple Giants, seize share of lead

Games Monday (Ynares Arena, Pasig City)

12 noon – Racal Motors vs MP Hotel

2 p.m. – Bread Story-LPU vs Hapee

4 p.m. – AMA University vs MJM Builders

MANILA, Philippines - Rodrigue Ebondo put on a double-double job of 16 points and 13 rebounds as Café France recovered from a first half struggle to beat Jumbo Plastic, 66-61, to tie Hapee at the helm in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City yesterday.

Joseph Sedurifa and Bong Galanza also came off the bench and combined for 23 points as the Bakers hit five triples in the third and outscored the Giants, 21-8, to wrest control en route to notching their third straight win for an early share of the lead with the Hapee side.

“There’s still a lot of room for improvement. We’re just plain lucky to have won three in a row,” said Café France coach Egay Macaraya.

“We have this tendency of blowing leads at endgame. I think that’s the challenge for the team. I’m pleased though with the hard work we put in on playing defense,” he added.

Jumbo Plastic kept a 43-40 lead with 3:05 left in the third when Aaron Jeruta, Galanza and Ebondo buried three-points to highlight an 11-0 run that put the Bakers ahead to stay.

Plastic, which dropped to 2-1. 

Ealier, Giovanni Jalalon fired 11 of his game-high 15 points in the second half as Bread Story-LPU snapped a 0-2 start with a 69-64 upset over Tanduay Light.