PBA-DL: Boracay Rum lands first loss on Cafe France

Mark Belo hit a jumper with 8.4 seconds left as Boracay Rum came up with a come-from-behind 80-79 victory over erstwhile undefeated Café France on Tuesday in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Meralco Gym.

Belo converted a corner jumper from the left side for the game-winner as the Waves improved to 2-1, while handing the Bakers their first loss in three games.

The conversion by the Far Eastern University standout off an assist by Maclean Sabellina completed another Boracay Rum comeback, after the team trailed, 79-76, with one minute left in the fourth.

Chris Banchero started the Boracay Rum onslaught with a steal off Mon Abundo and a lay-up with 35.5 seconds left. Mac Montilla missed a lay-up for Café France to set up Belo’s heroics.

“Sinuwerte lang kami. Café France has come a long way…But I’ll take this win. We have to go back to the drawing board,” said Boracay Rum coach Lawrence Chongson.

Banchero finished with 19 points while Prince Caperal added 11 markers for the Waves, who also had to fight back from a 19-point deficit to beat Cagayan Valley for their first win.

Café France scored eight unanswered points capped by a Jam Cortes lay-up, 79-76, with 1:09 left in the fourth but failed to sustain the run.

Cortes and Rod Ebondo each had 18 points for the Bakers. - Reuben Terrado, SPIN


The scores:

Boracay Rum 80 – Banchero 19, Caperal 11, Belo 10, Taha 10, Ignacio 8, Bautista 5, Ilagan 5, Rono 5, Cabrera 3, Sabellina 2, Tagarda 2, Siruma 0, Lingganay 0

Café France 79 – Ebondo 18, Cortes 18, Montilla 14, Abundo 11, Sedurifa 7, Batino 5, Acidre 3, Gallardo 3, De Leon 0, Banua 0, Mutombo 0

Quarter scoring: 19-23, 39-38, 64-59, 80-79