Racal mauls AMA, secures top seed in D-League semis

PBA

By Ivan Saldajeno

QUEZON CITY--Racal ended the elimination round of the PBA D-League Foundation Cup with a bang, trouncing AMA, 105-76, at the JCSGO Gym on Tuesday to officially secure the top seed in the semifinals.

The Tile Masters, already assured of a twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals, romped the Titans in the final three quarters to finish their preliminary campaign with the best record at 10-2, sweeping the second round in the process as well.

"All of the teams which got to the Final Four are strong so the only advantage you can get is the twice-to-beat. We're just lucky that we got a good stretch in the end," Coach Caloy Garcia said after the win.

The result put to waste Cafe France-CEU's last gasp of hopefully clinching the other playoff bonus, a win against Mindanao earlier Monday.

[Related Story: Cafe France stays in twice-to-beat hunt, completes shutout of Mindanao]

Jonathan Grey led five Racal players in double figures with 17 points on top of five rebounds and six assists.

Rashawn McCarthy fired 26 points for AMA, which ended its own stint at 4-8.

The Tile Masters will take on the Tanduay Rhum Masters in the first semifinal on Thursday at the Strike Gym in Bacoor at 4 p.m., while the Bakers battle the Phoenix Accelerators, who nabbed the other twice-to-beat edge, in the other Final Four game at 6 p.m.

Box Scores:

Racal 105-Grey 17, Paniamogan 16, Corpuz 15, Javier 11, Ortuoste 11, Terso 11, Cabrera 6, Maiquez 6, Robles 6, Ambulodto 4, Gabawan 2, Neypes 2, Celiz 1

AMA 76-McCarthy 26, Martinez 15, Arambulo 12, Asuncion 7, Ortega 4, Malones 3, Calma 2, Jordan 2, Jo. Montemayor 2, Taganas 2, Macaranas 1, Belleza 0, Carpio 0

Quarterscores: 20-16, 53-39, 83-60, 105-76

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