Tanduay sets historic blowout win against lowly Zark's

PBA
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--A month after conceding a then all-time high 140 points, Zark's let its opponent breach that mark again.

Even a little higher than that.

Tanduay broke the record set by Racal on June 8 by just a single point, handing Zark's a 141-65 mauling in their PBA D-League Foundation Cup clash at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig on Monday.

The Rhum Masters actually set two records in the same game as their 76-point winning margin broke the 67-point gap set by the Cignal Hawkeyes against the Gamboa Coffee Lovers on June 15, exactly a week after the Jawbreakers gave up 140 Alibaba points.

Tanduay wasted no time in dealing Zark's a sound beating, limiting the latter to only six first quarter points while dropping 35, 14 coming from veteran Jerwin Gaco, and never looking back.

Despite the historic win, Coach Lawrence Chongson still looks ahead at the bigger goal.

“Hindi mahalaga yung record para sa amin. Balewala yan if we don’t make it to the next round. The only record na gusto namin is mag-champion,” he said.

Gaco finished with 21 points to backstop James Martinez, who shot 5-of-8 from downtown for 23 points. Both Gaco and Martinez flirted with double-doubles as Gaco grabbed eight rebounds and Martinez gave up nine assists.

Paul Sanga chipped in 20 markers including a layup as time was winding down that gave the Rhum Masters their 141st point.

Robby Celiz led the Jawbreakers, who lost for the fourth straight time and further slipped to 1-7, with 13 points, three rebounds, and two assists.

Box Scores:

Tanduay 141-Martinez 23, Gaco 21, Sanga 20, Varilla 15, Alvarez 11, Villamor 10, Eguilos 9, Vigil 9, Terso 7, Santos 5, Sollano 5, Palma 2, Taganas 2, Tambeling 2

Zark's 65-Celiz 13, Ferrer 12, Bautista 11, De Leon 10, Cudal 6, Cariaga 5, Mangahas 5, Nalos 2, Argamino 1, Cayabyab 0, De Ocampo 0

Quarterscores: 35-6, 58-29, 95-45, 141-65

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