TMasters rip Couriers, roll to 4th straight win

MANILA, Philippines - Kent Salado delivered the goods when needed the most as Racal slipped past Wangs, 89-84, to stretch its unbeaten run to four in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City yesterday.

Salado unloaded eight straight points in the fourth to give the Tile Masters an 83-78 cushion with 2:52 left in the tightly fought contest marked by 17 deadlocks, the last at 70.

But the Couriers refused to give up, pulling to within, 84-87 on a Marlon Gomez putback before Racal’s Thomas Torres canned two charities as the Tile Masters frustrated the Wangs side and stayed unbeaten at 4-0.

Jackson Corpuz led Racal’s charge with 18 points and 14 rebounds, Salado finished with 14 markers while Sydney Onwubere added 10 points.

Rey Publico hit 16 points, Gomez fired 14 markers, Von Tambeling made 13 points and dished off five assists, and Cedrick Labing-isa chipped in 10 points for Wangs, which fell to its third straight loss for a 1-3 in a tie with Batangas.

“We really had a hard time. I warned them that we will be tackling very clever and smart players in Wangs like (Marlon) Gomez and (Rey) Publico. I told them to not take it for granted and I knew it would be a close game,” said Racal head coach Jerry Codiñera.

In the other game, Cafe France rode on a big third quarter attack to blast Jose Rizal University, 75-57.

The scores:

First Game

Racal 89 – Corpuz 18, Salado 14, Onwubere 10, Nambatac 9, Mangahas 8, Dagangon 6, Cabrera 5, Gabayni 5, Torres 5, Gabawan 3, Terso 3, Flores 2, Gumaru 1, Apreku  0.

Wangs 84 – Publico 16, M. Gomez 14, Tambeling 13, Labing-isa 10, Brana 8, Enriquez 6, Salcedo 6, Tayongtong 5, Montuano 3, Regalado 2, C. Gomez 1, Juruena 0, King 0.

Quarterscores: 21-13, 43-43, 66-64, 89-84

Second Game

Café France 75 – Ebondo 21, Desiderio 13, Casino 7, Calisaan 6, Gabriel 5, Jeruta 5, Veron 5, Faundo 4, Arim 3, Manlangit 2, Wamar 2, Aquino 0, Guinitaran 0.

JRU 57 – Bautista 13, Poutouochi 12, Pontejos 11, Grospe 9, Teodoro 4, Bordon 3, Lasquety 2, Santos 2, Sawat 1, Estrella 0, Lopez 0, Mate 0.

Quarterscores: 16-19, 38-36, 55-45, 75-57