MANILA, Philippines – Apex Fuel-San Sebastian captured its first win in the 2022 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup after taking down Builders Warehouse-UST, 88-83, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday, July 14.
Rhinwil Yambing led San Sebastian in the hard-earned victory as he delivered a game-high 19 points, to go along with 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.
Ichie Altamirano and James Una, meanwhile, contributed 16 points apiece for the Stags, who improved their record to 1-1.
After a tightly contested battle between both squads in the first three quarters, San Sebastian finally created a double-digit edge over UST in the early goings of the final frame, 68-57, off two free throws by Yambing.
The Tigers, however, managed to pull within striking distance, cutting the Stags’ lead back to just 5, 69-64, with 5:19 remaining in the payoff period.
Luckily for San Sebastian, it managed to push its lead back to 10, 74-64, off a triple by Altamirano with 4:38 left to play.
San Sebastian’s Rafael Are then put UST away for good with a cold-blooded trey at the 3:25 mark of the fourth quarter as he extended his team’s lead to its largest at 13, 79-66.
Kean Baclaan paced UST – which dropped to 0-2 – with 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Christian Manaytay added 16 markers and 7 boards.
In the first game, Adalem Construction-St. Clare secured its second straight victory with an 84-50 thrashing of AMA Online.
Ahron Estacio showed the way for St. Clare with 15 points in just 16 minutes of action, while John Edcel Rojas chipped in 13 points and 8 rebounds in the lopsided affair.
Randolf Cruz was the lone player to finish in double figures for AMA Online with 11 markers.
St. Clare climbed up to 2-1 in the standings, while AMA Online remained at the bottom of the pack at 0-3.
The Scores
First Game
St. Clare 84 – Estacio 15, Rojas 13, Lopez 10, Manacho 9, Ndong 8, Sumagaysay 8, Sablan 5, Acosta 4, Tapenio 4, Balacaoc 2, Decano 2, Gamboa 2, Victoriano 2.
AMA Online 50 – R. Cruz 11, Villamor 8, Yambao 7, Palaña 7, Ceniza 6, Romero 5, Cruz 4, Alina 2, Fuentes 0, Kapunan 0, K. Cruz 0, Temporasa 0.
Quarters: 21-8, 42-24, 64-39, 84-50.
Second Game
San Sebastian 88 – Yambing 19, Altamirano 16, Una 16, Villapando 10, Are 8, Desoyo 6, Sumoda 5, Shanoda 4, Cosari 2, Escobido 2, Panglinawan 0, Ventura 0, Calahat 0, Felebrico 0.
UST 83 – Baclaan 17, Manaytay 16, Cabañero 13, Concepcion 12, Santos 9, Pangilinan 7, Manalang 6, Mantua 3, Canoy 0, Herrera 0, Lazarte 0, Gesalem 0.
Quarters: 19-20, 37-32, 57-50, 88-83.
– Rappler.com
