Ateneo books D-League finals berth; St Clare extends semis

 

 

MANILA, Philippines – Cignal-Ateneo gave a repeat performance in their march towards the 2019 PBA D-League finals, drubbing Valencia-San Sebastian anew, 100-73, at the Ynares Sports Arena on Thursday, June 6.

Thirdy Ravena led the Eagles’ balanced attack with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists while Ange Kouame churned out a 12-marker, 18-rebound double-double in the rout.

Much like their first encounter, the Stags were right in the mix in the 1st half, with the Eagles only leading by 5 after San Sebastian got as far ahead as 12 in the opening frame. They even brought the fight to Ateneo without top scorer Allyn Bulanadi, who exited at the 8:05 mark of the 1st after an apparent right arm injury. 

However, Ateneo once again turned up the heat after intermission and buried their opponents with a 26-5 run for a 76-50 advantage, capped by a BJ Andrade triple at the 2:46 mark.

It was all Ateneo from there as they pushed the gap to as high as 29, 81-52, off a long bomb by Isaac Go to begin the payoff period. 

RK Ilagan was left to lead the Stags to the endgame, finishing with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists in the losing effort. Alvin Capobres and JM Calma each stepped up in Bulanadi’s absence, chipping in 14 and 13 markers, respectively. 

It was the same story in the second game of the day as St Clare-Virtual Reality finally put clamps on an eight-man CEU side, 84-50, to send their semis series to a do-or-die Game 3 on Tuesday, June 11.

Mohamed Pare led the easy win with 17 points and 15 rebounds while Darwin Lunor added 14 markers off the bench. 

After CEU opened the contest with a 3-0 lead, their offense plummeted off a cliff as they got thoroughly outscored by St Clare, 32-6, bridging through the 2nd period. 

The game quickly turned to a snoozefest for much of the afternoon as the Saints pushed the lead as high as 34 off 8 straight points by late sub Joseph Penaredondo.

Franz Diaz paced CEU with 19 points while Senegalese big man Malick Diouf was held to just 7 markers, albeit with 22 rebounds in the sorry loss.

The Scores 

First Game: 

Cignal-Ateneo 100 – Ravena 19, Go 13, Kouame 12, Andrade 11, Ma. Nieto 9, Mendoza 8, Belangel 8, Mi. Nieto 7, Daves 6, Wong 4, Tio 3, Navarro 0, Credo 0. 

Valencia-San Sebastian 73 – Ilagan 22, Capobres 14, Calma 13, Bonleon 8, Are 6, Villapando 3, Tero 3, Sumoda 2, Altamirano 2, Dela Cruz 0, Desoyo 0, Calahat 0, Bulanadi 0, Loristo 0. 

Quarters: 19-28, 50-45, 78-52, 100-73. 

Second Game: 

St. Clare-Virtual Reality 84 – Pare 17, Lunor 14, Hallare 11, Fontanilla 11, Penaredondo 11, Rubio 7, Palencia 5, Santos 2, Rivera 2, Manacho 2, Tiquia 2, Ambulodto 0, Fuentes 0, Decano 0. 

CEU 50 – Diaz 19, Sunga 14, Diouf 7, Santos 5, Guinitaran 5, Bernabe 0, Abastillas 0, Intic 0. 

Quarters: 14-7, 36-19, 60-30, 84-50.

– Rappler.com