Bakers bolster bid for top 2, rip Titans

MANILA, Philippines - Congolese Rod Ebondo fired nine of his 29 points in the stretch as Cafe France turned back AMA Online Education, 92-83, to firm up its bid for a top two spot in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao yesterday.

Ebondo came up with big shots to give the Bakers an 89-77 cushion in the closing minutes after the Titans threatened to within, 73-75, on a three-pointer by Juami Tiongson.

It was Café France’s sixth win against a loss for solo second behind idle Cignal-San Beda (7-1) while leaving Racal to third with a 5-1 card.

“The good thing about this is that our destiny is still in our hands. So we have to win our two remaining games and hopefully land a spot in top two,” said Cafe France coach Egay Macaraya whose wards extended its win run to five.

Cafe France actually controlled the game early, erecting a 14-point spread, 48-34, in the second quarter but AMA rallied and even grabbed the lead at 68-67 behind Jeron Teng.

But Ebondo imposed his will and strength and led the Bakers’ fightback. He finished with a double-double game with 18 rebounds while Paul Desiderio contributed 14 points.

Juami Tiongson and Teng combined for 45 points for AMA, which slid to 5-4.

Earlier, ex-pros Mark Cruz and Jerwin Gaco combined for 51 points as Tanduay snapped a two-game skid and smothered Batangas, 86-66, to bolster its quarterfinal bid.

Cruz rained five three-pointers to finish with a game-high 29 points while Gaco, who suited up for the Rhum Masters for the first time, put in a double-double output of 22 points on a 9-for-10 shooting and hauled down 11 boards.

Tanduay actually struggled in the early going but got into the groove in the second quarter to lead by 15 points. But the Batangueños clamped down on defense and held the Rhum Masters scoreless in a two-minute stretch while pouring in 12 points to move within, 49-54.

Cruz and Gaco, however, stepped up and accounted for the team’s last 10 ponts as Tanduay took another 12-point lead at 64-52.

Gaco finished off the Batangueños with an eight-point splurge in the payoff period as the Rhum Masters raced to a? 19-point spread, 79-60.

Joseph Sedurifa shot 14 markers for Batangas, which fell to 3-5.