Hapee, Cafe France get ahead in PBA D-League semis

MANILA, Philippines – One down, one more to go.

The Hapee Fresh Fighters and the Cafe France Bakers each moved a win away from the 2015 PBA D-League Foundation Cup finals after scoring game 1 wins in their respective best-of-3 semifinals series on Monday, June 8 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Hapee nears a return trip to the finals after warding off the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems, 82-71 in the first game.

Playing without Gilas cadets Baser Amer, Troy Rosario and Scottie Thompson – who are in Singapore for the 2015 Southeast Asian Games – the Fresh Fighters leaned on the San Beda frontcourt of Ola Adeogun and Art Dela Cruz to get the job done.

Big man Adeogun posted 25 points, 14 rebounds and a block while Dela Cruz had a near triple-double of 23 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists as Hapee kept Cebuana at bay from the get-go.

Chris Newsome added 11 points as the Fresh Fighters quickly built an 11-point cushion after the first period. The Gems then stormed ahead in the second with a brief 38-37 lead before Hapee took it right back and re-established a 51-40 lead at halftime and cruised the rest of the way.

Paul Zamar and Simon Enciso topscored for Cebuana with 18 and 14 points, respectively. Potential top pick for next season’s PBA draft Moalaa Tautuaa left the game early in the third with a reported ankle injury after a bad fall.

The big man finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Meanwhile, Cafe France defeated Cagayan-Gerry’s, 78-65, in the second game behind Rodrigue Ebondo’s 19 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks.

Maverick Ahanmisi chipped in 11 markers and 10 boards as the Bakers clamped down defensively to control the game.

Michael Mabulac led the Rising Suns with 15 points and 12 rebounds as Jason Melano and Abel Galluigez contributed 14 and 10 markers, respectively.

Game 2 for both series will be played on Thursday, June 11. – Rappler.com