Phoenix rises again

Trips Tanduay to complete D-League title sweep

MANILA, Philippines - Phoenix staked its claim as the top team in the PBA D-League, crushing Tanduay, 87-78, in their sudden death for the Foundation Cup crown at the Alonte Sports Arena yesterday and completing its sweep of the season titles.

Conference MVP Mike Tolomia came out of a shooting slump and fired nine of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and finished with seven rebounds and four assists while Mac Belo posted a double-double of 14 markers and 10 boards to power the Accelerators to the victory, 2-1.

“We just stayed together and though we struggled offensively, we held on to our defense to pound out this win,” said Tolomia, who groped for eight points in Game Two which the Rhum Masters took, 89-75, last Tuesday to force the rubber match.

The Accelerators, who took the series opener, 84-76, rode on one big run sparked by Raymar Jose in the opening quarter then thwarted every Tanduay comeback in the next three to fashion out the surprisingly emphatic victory coming off a 14-point blowout loss.

That set up the winner-take-all match which the Accelerators dominated with a strong finishing kick in the first quarter anchored on a stifling defense that limited the Rhum Masters to just four points in the last 3:37.

The victory also capped Phoenix domination of the league after toppling Café France for the Aspirants’ Cup championship early in the season.

The Accelerators broke away from a tight 15-13 count by pouring in 17 points, including a triple and a buzzer-beater from Jovet Mendoza, while holding the Rhum Masters to just one basket, courtesy of Rudy Lingganay, and Al Gotladera’s charities.

Phoenix kept that 15-point lead intact in the next two quarters although Tanduay cut it to nine at the onset of the fourth.

The Rhum Masters, who hurdled a number of knockout matches, including a reversal over the top seeded Racal Tile Masters in the semis to gain a crack at the crown, pulled to within three, 63-66, on back-to-back baskets by Val Acuna and Lingganay with still 8:43 left in the contest. But the Accelerators countered with five straight points on a trey by Al Tamsi and a running jumper by Ed Daquioag then Tolomia came through with four clutch charities to seal the victory for Phoenix.

Jaymo Eguilos topped Tanduay with 16 points and six rebounds, while Reden Celda had 14 markers and seven boards and Acuna and Gelo Alolino finished with 13 points apiece.

The scores:

Phoenix 87 – Tolomia 21, Belo 14, Daquioag 10, Escoto 9, Jose 9, Andrada 6, Mendoza 6, Inigo 5, Pogoy 4, Tamsi 3, Colina 0.?

Tanduay 78 – Eguilos 16, Celda 14, Acuna 13, Alolino 13, Lingganay 10, Ferrer 7, Belencion 3, Gotladera 2, Javillonar 0, Mendoza 0, Santos 0, Tagarda 0.

Quarterscores: 32-17, 48-34, 65-56, 87-78