Jumbo Plastic upsets Hapee, Cafe France avoids collapse in PBA D-League

MANILA, Philippines – The Jumbo Plastic Linoleum Giants upset a revamped Hapee Fresh Fighters squad, 64-61, in the 2015 PBA D-League Foundation Cup on Monday, March 23 at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao. 

Juami Tiongson and Glenn Khobuntin led the way with 14 points apiece for Jumbo Plastic, who entered the win column, 1-1.

Earl Scottie Thompson had 17 points to lead the 2015 Aspirants Cup champions who opened this conference with a loss. Chris Newsome added 12 while last conference’s Most Valuable Player Rayray Parks settled for just a point and went 0-of-9 from the field.

Hapee is without its core of San Beda stars including Baser Amer and Ola Adeugon as they were reportedly told to focus on the upcoming NCAA tournament.

Jumbo Plastic took full advantage and wrested control of the game midway in the second frame to build a double-digit lead. 

The Giants briefly held a 13-point edge in the third on a Tiongson triple. But Hapee came alive in the payoff period, inching to with 61-62 off a Thompson basket underneath with 49.5 ticks remaining.

But the NCAA MVP committed a costly turnover that led to two free throws from Jaymo Eguilos for a the final tally with 6.6 left. Thompson missed a potential game-tying triple as time expired. 

In the first game, the Cafe France Bakers bucked a slow start and averted a huge endgame meltdown, squeaking past the Tanduay Light Rhum Masters, 68-62.

Maverick Ahanmisi led the now 1-1 Cafe France with 16 points and JM Noble chipped in 15 markers.

Alvin Abundo banked the game-sealing three-pointer with 10.7 seconds left as the Bakers held on after blowing a 15-point lead late in the third period. He had just 5 points in the game.

Aljon Mariano, who dropped a game-high 22 points, pushed Tanduay Light to within 65-62 with 1:42 to play. But he missed a couple of attempts after that, including a trey from the top of the key that could have tied the game.

No other Rhum Master scored in double figures as Roi Sumang contributed 9 points. Tanduay Light led by 6 points after the first quarter but was held scoreless in the first 5:49 of the second as Cafe France took a 21-13 advantage. – Rappler.com