THE TIGERS-reinforced Max Bond Sumos bowed down to the Cebuana Lhuiller Gems, 58-73, in a hotly-contested game in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Developmental League Foundation Cup at the Trinity University of Asia gym last May 12.
The loss snapped the Sumos’ three-game winning streak and left them with a 3-2 card for a share of the second spot with the FCA Cultivators. The Gems tied Cobra Energy Drink at first place with identical 4-1 win-loss cards.
The skirmish saw coaches from both teams, including one player from each side, ejected.
Max Bond head coach Pido Jarencio and Cebuana Lhuiller Gems mentor Luigi Trillo were kicked out of the playing court while Sumos’ big man Junjun Cabatu and Gems center Ariel Mepaña were sent back to the locker room.
“Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nilabas,” Jarencio said. ”Physical na talaga yung game at ‘di na nila ma-control.”
The Sumos fell behind early in the first quarter, 9-25, owing to the Gems’ offensive onslaught.
Max Bond never recovered as it fell into a deeper hole late into the third quarter, sliding to a 17-point deficit after transition plays from former UST Growling Tiger Alein Maliksi, Kevin Alas and Alfred Mandami sustained the massive lead.
The game eventually got out of reach for the Sumos in the fourth quarter because of the torrid shooting by former University of the East Red Warrior Pari Llagas and Alas. Maliksi led the Gems with 19 points, six rebounds and two blocks while Llagas made his presence felt with 14 points and 10 boards.
UST point guard Jeric Fortuna was the only bright spot for the Sumos, putting up 10 points, six rebounds and four assists. Sumos big man Reil Cervantes could not get his groove and committed serious errors down the stretch.
Fortuna downplayed Jarencio’s ejection, saying it was a non-factor in the way the Sumos played.
“We were motivated to play the game after coach (Jarencio) was sent out,” he said. “Sometimes, things should start from us. We should not always depend on our coach on how we play.”
Third time charm
Previously, the Sumos posted their third-straight win at the expense of the Junior Powerade Tigers squad, 76-64, at the Marikina Sports Complex last May 3.
Rudy Lingganay, Jeric Teng, Cervantes and Cabatu each scored in double digits for the Sumos.
Cervantes led all scorers chipping in 17 markers while Lingganay put up 15, while Cabatu scored 13 and Teng finished with 12. Rodolfo Serafin Jerome T. Lozada and Chenny V. Ramos
