Viray, Manuel tow Pacific Pipes to inaugural D-League win

Topex Robinson may be the youngest coach in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) D-League, but his RnW Pacific Pipes secured the first win of the league defeating PC Gilmore, 76-72, Saturday at The Arena in San Juan City. Former San Sebastian hotshot Jim Viray had 18 points while Vic Manuel, the last Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Most Valuable Player, added 15 points as they joined forces in a telling third-quarter run to give Robinson his first win in his first coaching job. "Andoon talaga 'yung kaba," said the 36-year-old Robinson, who is also part of the coaching staff of the Alaska Aces. "It's really a different ballgame. When you are playing, you are dependent on your coach, but if you're coaching, you depend on yourself." Actually, RnW only had 10 players but had enough gas in their tank to capture the win. "We really had to play good defense on their guards because PC Gilmore is a guard-oriented line-up," said Robinson. RnW leaned on Manuel's and Viray's baskets in a 12-2 run to break away from a 42-all deadlock and take a 54-42 edge. RnW never relinquished the lead after that and used another 8-0 run at the start of the fourth quarter, capped by Viray's back-to-back shots, to enjoy a 64-48 advantage. PC Gilmore closed in at 72-75 on a 7-0 run capped by a Jam Cortez lay-up with 1:11 left in the game, but the Wizards flubbed their opportunities to cut the deficit further. Carlo Lastimosa, nephew of former Alaska star Jojo Lastimosa, led the Wizards with 16 points, while Cortes had 14 points. Kojak Melegrito had nine points while Maclean Sabellina had eight points and 13 rebounds for RnW. In the second game, Cobra Energy Drink beat Maynilad, 78-70, to join RnW Pacific Pipes as opening day winners. Paul Lee had 26 points while Kenneth Acibar had 16 points as the Ironmen pulled away in the second quarter, 41-27, to take the win. The Ironmen had little time to jell together as they were just formed two weeks ago. "I know we are going to play a team that has been together for three years, so I gave my players a huge dose of confidence," said Cobra coach Lawrence Chongson. Anthony Semerad had 13 points, Dave Marcelo had 12 and Jake Pascual had 11 points for the Water Dragons, who had a spirited comeback in the final moments of the game but fell short. Maynilad was able to cut the deficit to eight points on a 10-0 run after a Pascual steal and a layup, but former National University standout Melvin Baloran hit two free throws to seal the win. Maynilad's Sudan Daniel was ejected in the third quarter after elbowing John Foronda in the head. – Reuben Terrado, JVP, KY, GMA News