Ceres, foe in goalless draw
Group G leader CeresNegros failed in its bid to pad its lead over its closest pursuers after being held to a goalless draw by Malaysian side Felda United at home Wednesday in the AFC Cup at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.
The Busmen frustrated most of the 9,000 fans after their failure to score this time and almost came out as the losing team had it not been for goalkeeper Roland Muller’s save past the hour mark.
Ceres conceded a penalty after OJ Porteria brought down Norshahrul Talada in the 61st minute, but Muller responded by stopping Lucas Cano’s spot kick.
The draw put Ceres level with Vietnamese side Hanoi at five points apiece after three matches, but holds the group lead on goal difference.
It was a disappointing show for PH clubs against their Malaysian counterparts after Global was beaten 4-0 by Johor Darul Ta’zim on Tuesday in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
That setback dropped Global to second place in Group F, one off JDT, halfway into the group stage competition.
Games Tuesday (Marikina Sports Complex) 3 p.m. – Cignal vs Tanduay
5 p.m. – CaféFrance vs Racal
CaféFrance erupted for 33 points in the third quarter and warded off Jose Rizal University’s (JRU) fightback, 86-75, to secure a semifinals berth yesterday in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup quarterfinals at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. JK Casino, Rod Ebondo, and Michael Calisaan combined for 27 points in that period as the Bakers erased a 38-32 halftime deficit to take the lead, before Paul Desiderio and newly acquired Joseph Sedurifa led the way in scuttling the comeback bids of the Heavy Bombers in the payoff period”. Ebondo had 16 points and 11 rebounds while Descored siderio likewise 16 for CaféFrance, which will take on the Racal Tile Masters in a best-of-three semifinal series which starts next week. Casino and Sedurifa, who returned to the Bakers after being released by Batangas before the deadline for free agent signings, each made 15 points while Calisaan chipped in nine.
Teytey Teodoro’s 18 points were not enough to give JRU a chance of forcing a rubber match with CaféFrance, which entered the quarters carrying a twice-to-beat advantage.
The Bakers opened the third with seven straight points, with Casino completing the run with a three-pointer that made it 39-38, 42 seconds into the period. Casino later extended the lead to 13 points, 65-55, on a threepointer near the end of the third.
JRU got to within three, 78-75, on two free throws by Rey Publico with 1:24 left. But Sedurifa responded by firing a triple on the ensuing play that kept CaféFrance in comfortable position.
Tanduay completed the semis cast after surviving AMA Online Education, 80-76, in the second game.
Mark Cruz scored 23 points while former PBA veteran Jerwin Gaco added 16 points and eight rebounds for the Rhum Masters, who will take on Cignal-San Beda in a similar bestof-three semis series.
Von Tambeling scored 27 points after being signed from Wangs Basketball but couldn’t lead AMA to victory on a night when star forward Jeron Teng was held to six points on 1-of-15 shooting.
Desiderio 16, Ebondo 16, Casino 15, Sedurifa 15, Calisaan 9, Faundo 6, Arim 3, Wamar 2, Jeruta 2, Manlangit 2, Aquino 0, Guinitaran 0, Veron 0.
Teodoro 18, Bautista 14, Ambuludto 10, De la Virgen 8, Marquez 8, Publico 7, Lasquety 6, Poutouochi 4, Astilla 0.
Quarters: 15-22; 32-38; 65-55; 86-75.