Cagayan Valley survives Tautuaa’s 26 points, outlasts Café France in 2OT

Games Monday (JCSGO Gym)

12 p.m. – Racal Motors vs AMA University

2 p.m. – MP Hotel vs Jumbo Plastic

4 p.m. – MJM Builders vs Bread Story-LPU

MANILA, Philippines – Fil-Tongan Moala Tautuaa debuted in Philippine basketball with 26 big points but Abel Galliguez and Alex Austria still needed to come through in the clutch as Cagayan Valley overcame Café France, 89-84, in double-overtime to gain a piece of the lead with Hapee Toothpaste in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Ynares Arena in Pasig Thursday.

After Cagayan Valley squandered a six-point lead in the last 51 seconds of regulation play, Austria fired a trey to force anotherovertime at 76, then Galliguez took over, scoring 11 of his 12 points in the second extra period.

Held to one point in the first 45 minutes of the game, Galliguez suddenly came out firing in second OT, preserving Tautuaa’s big numbers as the Rising Stars notched a fourth straight win.

Earlier, Mar Villahermosa, Kevin Ferrer and Allan Mangahas joined forces to power Cebuana Lhuillier past Tanduay Light, 77-57.

The Gems improved to 2-2 while the Rhum Masters dropped to 1-3.

Tautuaa, the No. 1 draft pick coming from his stint with the Malaysian Dragons in the Asean Basketball League, went 11-of-16 from the field including a three-point conversion and also collected seven rebounds, three assists and two steals against four turnovers in 43 minutes of action.

Randy Dilay, Austria and Michael Mabulac contributed at least 10 points each for the Rising Stars who dealt the Bakers a first loss in four games.

The two erstwhile unbeaten teams engaged in a fierce battle that saw no teams lead by more than eight.

Galliguez nailed a trey then scored on a floater as the Rising Stars eventually took control at 84-76 with less than two minutes left to play.

After wiping out a six-point deficit inside the final minute in regulation, the Bakers looked headed to pulling through in the first overtime but then Austria banged in a three-pointer with time down to five seconds.

Rodrigue Ebondo starred in Café France’s chase in the fourth and finished with a solid double-double game with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Jonar Huertas topscored with 19 points for the Café France team, composed mainly of NAASCU champ Centro Escolar U. 

The scores:

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, Canlas 0, Acibar 0.

Tanduay Light 57 – Sumang 11, Jumao-as 8, Ignacio 7, Ilagan 6, Escueta 5, Tagarda 5, Mandani 4, De Leon 4, Foronda 4, Banal 3, Santos 0, Belencion 0, Rono 0.

Quarterscores: 17-11; 38-23; 63-39; 77-57

Second Game

Cagayan Valley 89 – Tautuaa 26, Dilay 13, Galliguez 12, Austria 11, Mabutac 10, Salamat 5, Olayon 4, Tayongtong 3, Celada 3, Trollano 2, Flores 0, Capacio 0, Melano 0.

Café France 84 – Huertas 19, Sedurifa 15, Ebondo 13, Ahanmisi 13, Abundo 7, Andrada 6, Cortez 4, Galanza 3, Jeruta 2, Batino 2, Habelito 0, De Leon 0, Noble 0.

Quarterscores: 13-18, 31-30, 47-43, 67-67 (reg.), 76-76 (1st OT), 89-84 (2nd OT)