Batangas clobbers AMA Online for 3rd win

Games Monday

3 p.m. – Racal Motors vs Wangs Basketball

5 p.m. – Flying V vs Marinerong Pilipino

MANILA, Philippines - Batangas took control early and walloped AMA Online Education, 95-76, to close in on unbeaten Flying V in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig yesterday.

The Batangueños, facing little opposition from the hapless Titans, surged to an early 22-10 lead, pulled away at 44-26 at the turn before coasting to the 19-point romp for their third win in four games.

“I think we invested well in our previous conference. The core of the team is almost intact. It’s a big thing that the players are already able to absorb what I want in a team but there are still a lot to improve on,” said Batangas coach Eric Gonzales.

Jhaps Bautista poured in 12 of his 22 points in the first two quarters and grabbed six rebounds while Joseph Sedurifa added 16 markers, eight boards, and two steals off the bench.

Cedrick Ablaza also contributed 11 points and seven rebounds as Batangas bounced back from a shock 70-72 defeat to the Centro Escolar U Scorpions last Thursday to trail the 3-0 Flying V Thunder.

Ivan Villanueva shot 14 points and had three rebounds, while Renzo Subido had 13 markers and four assists for the Titans, who took their fourth straight blowout loss.

Jerard Bautista topscored for the Batangueños with 22 points, Joseph Sedurifa chalked up 16, Cedric Ablaza tallied 11 while Wilmar Anderson added 10.

Ivan Villanueva posted 14 points, Renzo Subido wound up with 13, Junjun Alas swung 12 while Andre Paras turned in a double-double output of 10 points and 22 boards while swatting four attempts for AMA which remained at the bottom of the 11-team field at 0-4.

Centro Escolar University broke away in the third period to dump Zark’s Burgers, 78-62, and improve to 2-2 in the other game.

The Scorpions unleashed a 13-2 run midway in the third for a 59-44 cushion which they padded to 72-49 with 6:13 to play in the fourth to tie Wangs Basketball at sixth.

“We are somehow able to adjust already but there’s still a lot of lapses.”