Wangs Basketball set the tone early and held on to a 92-83 triumph over Victoria Sports-MLQU for its first victory in the 2017 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The Couriers took charge early and established a 21-point lead, 49-28, before the end of the first half behind the efforts of Von Tambeling and Allen Enriquez.
Robbie Herndon willed Victoria Sports within five, 72-67, with 7:12 left in the fourth, but Wangs recovered just in time and held off the newcomers.
Tambeling finished with 17 points, 12 coming in the first half, to go with seven rebounds, while Marlon Gomez got a double-double in tune of 17 markers and 13 boards, to go with three assists in the win.
Rey Publico also chipped in 14 points and six rebounds.
“The win is because of our early preparation. We had communication both on offense and defense and maganda kasi nakapag-execute kami,” said coach Pablo Lucas.
Herndon topped Victoria Sports with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while John Ragasa got 16 markers in the loss.
The Scores:
WANGS 92 – M. Gomez 17, Tambeling 17, Publico 14, Enriquez 10, Acosta 6, Tayongtong 5, Brana 4, Labing-isa 4, Montuano 4, Salcedo 4, Regalado 3, C. Gomez 2, King 2.
VICTORIA SPORTS 83 – Herndon 19, Ragasa 16, Koga 9, Nicholls 8, Plata 8, Grimaldo 7, Dionisio 6, Bitoon 4, Lao 4, Ayonayon 2, Mag-isa 0.