Hapee whips MP five, seals outright berth

Games Jan. 5 (JCSGO Gym, QC)

12 noon – AMA University vs Cagayan Valley

2 p.m. – Racal Motors vs Hapee

2 p.m. – Tanduay Light vs Jumbo Plastic

MANILA, Philippines - Hapee went into full throttle in the fourth quarter and demolished MP Hotel, 84-63, yesterday to clinch the first outright semifinal berth heading to the holiday break of the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Marikina Sports Complex in Marikina City.

Bobby Ray Parks fired 18 points while three others churned out double-digit scores as the Fresh Fighters withstood the Warriors’ gritty stand in the first three quarters before pulling away in the fourth.

“We didn’t defend the way we’re supposed to. I though Ray (Parks) did another good job on both ends,” said Hapee coach Ronnie Magsanoc.

Cagayan Valley also stayed clean, posting its seventh consecutive win by defeating Racal Motors, 95-89, in overtime.

The two teams played without their head coaches. Cagayan’s Alvin Pua is serving a three-game suspension while Racal’s Caloy Garcia was with Rain or Shine team preparing for Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals against Alaska.

But the Rising Suns proved steadier in the end, stretching their win run to seven while closing in on the other outright semis spot.

Ola Adeogun and Art dela Cruz scored 12 points apiece, Chris Newsome added 10 markers and the Hapee bench outscored MP Hotel’s second unit, 47-16, to power the Fresh Fighters to their eighth straight win and an outright semis seat.

Newsome poured in all but one of his output in the fourth while Kirk Long keyed Hapee’s big run before Newsome capped it with a trey of his own for a 75-61 bulge, 3:45 left. 

Reden Celda tallied 14 points while Jessie Collado and John Jamon added 13 and 11 markers, respectively, for the Warriors, who bowed out of the playoff race with a woeful 1-7 card.

Earlier, MJM Builders posted its second win in eight games with a 79-64 victory over Wangs Basketball.

The Builders opened the game with a 17-3 run and dictated the pace the rest of the way. They shot 59 percent from the floor in the opening quarter for a 28-16 lead.

Chris Tolomia scored 15 points and Bryan Cruz added 10 markers  for MJM, whose second unit outscored Wangs bench, 41-27, to snap a three-game skid.