Racal blasts Phoenix; Tanduay steals win

Games on July 12 (Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig)

4 p.m. – Racal vs Topstar ZC Mindanao

6 p.m. – Tanduay vs Phoenix

MANILA, Philippines - Racal once again proved that it belonged among the league’s bests, dealing Phoenix its first loss, 93-78 Thursday in the 2016 PBA D-League Foundation Cup at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

The Tile Masters stunned the Accelerators with a blazing fourth period and pulled away with a 19-5 tear in the fourth to hold a 92-76 edge with 1:16 left to play.

“We’re trying to make it to the top two,” said coach Caloy Garcia, as Racal stopped Phoenix’s winning streak at five and in the process, tied Tanduay at third place with a 5-2 record as the league takes a short break to give way to the 2016 Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Jamil Ortuoste captained the Tile Masters with 20 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while Jonathan Grey finished with 19 markers.

Robby Celiz also got 11 points, three boards, and three dimes, while Dexter Maiquez had a near-double-double with nine markers and 14 rebounds in the victory.

“I just told the players na we’re going to shorten out rotation because the only way to beat Phoenix is to run with them the whole time and siguro napagod sila eventually,” said Garcia.

Mac Belo led Phoenix (5-1) with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Roger Pogoy had 16 markers in the defeat.

In the first game, Tanduay edged Topstar ZC Mindanao,  84-81, in a game the latter should have won.

The Rhum Masters took the go-ahead basket when  JR Cawaling called a timeout his team no longer had, awarding Rudy Lingganay a  technical free throw to push his side up, 82-81 with 17.3 seconds left.

Cawaling would try to atone for that miscue, but missed on his drive and Lingganay iced the victory with a pair of free throws. Robin Rono fired a hail mary in dreams of forcing overtime, but his shot only hit the back iron as time expired.

“We’ll take it. A wi

The scores:

First Game

TANDUAY 84 – Lingganay 15, Vigil 14, Acuna 11, Belencion 10, Alolino 9, Javillonar 9, Gotladera 7, Mendoza 5, Celda 2, Santos 2, Acibar 0, Enguio 0, Stevens 0, Tagarda 0.

TOPSTAR ZC MINDANAO 81 – Cawaling 22, Rono 22, Ignacio 11, Jumao-as 10, Acosta 6, Cabrera 6, Garcia 3, Rivera 1, Argamino 0, Ongteco 0, Sarangay 0, Tano 0.

Quarterscores: 17-16, 37-33, 59-60, 84-81.

Second Game

RACAL 93 – Ortuoste 20, Grey 19, Celiz 11, Maiquez 9, Robles 9, Javier 8, Corpuz 6, Paniamogan 5, Gabawan 4, Banal 2, Neypes 0, Terso 0.

PHOENIX 78 – Belo 22, Pogoy 16, Tolomia 13, Daquioag 5, Andrada 4, Batino 4, Escoto 4, Jamito 4, Mendoza 4, Knuttel 2, Inigo 0, Tamsi 0.

Quarterscores: 29-22, 40-38, 65-64, 93-78.