Poligrates scores 27 as Rising Suns win

FLASHY CEBUANO guard Eliud Poligrates has found his niche and his game as he scored 27 points to lead the Cagayan Valley Rising Suns to a 107-75 rout of the Fruitas Shakers in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup yesterday at the Jose Rizal University gym in Mandaluyong City.

Poligrates, a guard formerly from Southwestern University who has a flair for flash unlike any other in the Cebuano basketball scene, anchored a third period run with consecutive three-pointers that sparked a 19-2 run for an 80-48 bulge heading to the final canto.

The win allowed Cagayan to come within a win away of getting the number two seed and the outright semifinal slot that comes with it.

The Rising Suns can secure the coveted spot and join top-seed and defending champion NLEX in the Final Four with a victory against Blackwater Sports [6-3] to close their elimination round stint tomorrow.

Jose Rizal University also nailed an all-important win against Erase Xfoliant, 74-61, in the second game to cement its place in the quarterfinals.

Dexter Maiquez scored 14 and Philip Paniamogan had 13 for the Heavy Bombers [5-4], who have a chance to earn a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarters if it wins it last game against Cebuana Lhuillier at the close of the elimination round on Jan. 31 coupled by a loss by Big Chill [5-4] against Café France on Jan. 29.

Kevin Racal scored 20 points and Jett Vidal added 13 for the Erasers, who picked up their sixth consecutive loss and fell to 2-7 overall. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio