Caida grabs solo lead, SLR strikes back in PCBL

MANILA, Philippines -- Caida Tile Masters continued its winning ways in the Philippine Commercial Basketball League Founders Cup on Wednesday as it hammered out a 94-82 victory over Jumbo Plastic even as Sta. Lucia Realty survived another endgame collapse before outlasting Supremo Lex at the Filoil Flying V Arena.

The Tile Masters flexed their muscles from the get go, but they were able to dictate the tempo more when Billy Robles started to anchor the team’s fast breaking game.

Robles knocked in 19 points, including 11 in the fourth period as the Tile Masters outran their rivals, scoring 19 points in transition compared to only four from Jumbo Plastic.

Dexter Marquez added 14 markers while sharp shooting Ford Ruaya contributed 10 for the Mike Bunedia-mentored Caida squad, which grabbed the early solo lead with a 2-0 record.

“Maybe yung early preparations naming is bearing fruits. We’ve been practicing for a long time. Yung familiarity nung players, medyo lumalabas sa endgame. But we still have lapses, especially in turnovers. We need to work on it pa. Rebounding is another aspect we need to improve on because we’re not a big team,” said Buendia, one of the assistant coaches of Yeng Guiao in Rain or Shine in the PBA.

True enough, Caida turned the ball over 20 times during the game.

Sta. Lucia squandered a 15-point lead in the third period, but held on to survive upset-conscious Supremo Lex, 77-71, in the main game.

Burly center Wowie Esconio went a rebound away from a double-double performance, tallying 19 points and nine rebounds, including a crucial three-point play down the stretch that helped stave off a late rally by Supremo Lex.

Jhapz Bautista contributed 10 for the Bonnie Garcia-mentored Realtors, who lost the opening game after leading by 20 points before bowing out to Caida’s sister team Racal Kama Motors.

Garcia admitted he need to address his team’s bad tendency by getting a good point guard in the near future.

“It shows that our maturity down the stretch, particularly our point guards, hindi pa gaanong matured. Kapag decision making down the stretch, nahihirapan sila,” said Garcia.

Garcia is banking on ex-pro Rob Celiz for leadership, but the former Blackwater and Talk N Text reserve swingman is not a point guard.