Written by : Theodore P. Jurado
Published : Wednesday, May 09, 2012 00:00

Games May 15: (San Juan gym)
2 p.m. -- Cagayan vs Blackwater
4 p.m. -- RnW Pacific Pipes vs. Jr. Powerade

FINALLY settling down under coach Beaujing Acot, Cebuana Lhuillier routed Jr. Powerade, 90-64, to remain in the hunt for the remaining outright semifinals berth in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Earlier, Marlon Gomez drilled in two pressure-packed free throws in the last 4.3 seconds as Erase Plantcenta escaped with a 69-66 win at the expense of Boracay Rum to keep its flickering quarterfinal hopes alive.

For now, the Gems have assured of a quarters berth with their sixth victory in eight games.

Cebuana Lhuillier, which placed second to NLEX in the same conference last season, moved half-game ahead in the race for the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

Acot, who improved to 3-1 since taking over from Luigi Trillo as Gems coach, paid tribute to his boys for adapting his new system.

“Ang maganda, the players are professional enough to understand. Little by little, they are taking their roles,” said Acot. “At first, medyo hesitant pero they are pretty much OK now. They are enjoying the game.”

Vic Manuel fired 30 points, while Lester Alvarez scored all of his 15 markers beyond the arc for Cebuana Lhuillier.

Allan Mangahas scattered 18 points and had eight rebounds, four assists and a steal, while Macky Acosta added 11 markers and five rebounds for the Erasers.

With its third win in seven starts, Erase Plantcenta is now tied with idle CafeFrance in sixth spot with two games remaining in its elims campaign.

The Tigers, now at 2-6, fell one and a half game behind the Bakers and the Erasers in the chase for the last quarters berth.

“I’m always telling my boys to take one game at a time, we have to focus,” said Erase Plantcenta coach Efren Garcia.

The Waves had a chance to turn things around, but Jeff Morial missed two charities in the endgame that could have cut down the deficit to one.

Gomez pulled down the crucial rebound which sealed the deal for Erasers.

Toto Bandaying had 12 points and two assists, while Kokoy Hermosisima added 10 markers, three assists and two rebounds for Boracay Rum.

Maclean Sabellina scored 10 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks for the Waves, while Clarence Foronda hauled down 13 rebounds.

with Nirvana S. Estiva

The scores:

First game

Erase Plantcenta (69)-- Mangahas 18, Acosta 11, Dizon 9, Gomez 8, Sarangay 6, Vijandre 5, Del Rio 5, Ferreria 4, Vidal 3, Stevens 0.

Boracay Rum (66)-- Bandaying 12, Hermosisima 10, Sabellina 10, Siruma 8, Cornejo 8, Abaya 6, Acibar 5, Foronda 5, Morial 2, Eguilos 0, Terso 0.

Quarterscores: 18-17; 33-30; 52-46; 69-66

Second game

Cebuana Lhuillier (90)-- Manuel 30, Alvarez 15, Taha 11, Celada 7, Hayes 6, Lozada 6, Exciminiano 5, Atkins 4, Apinan 4, Almazan 2, Pagente 0, Mangahas 0.

Jr. Powerade (64) --Cubo 17, Lopez 12, Padilla 12, Silungan 9, Gamboa 8, Hipolito 4, Juruena 2, Manuel 2, Gingerich 0, Reyes 0, Escueta 0.

Quarterscores: 24-10; 41-28; 59-52; 90-64.

Source: http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/sports/29560-cebuana-lhuillier-boosts-chances-for-semis-berth