CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Zark’s Burger-Lyceum weathered a late flurry by Wangs Basketball-Letran to win, 95-93, for its fourth straight win in the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup Monday at Pasig Sports Center.
Jaycee Marcelino scored the deciding basket, nailing a floater off of a MJ Ayaay dish to push his side up by two with 1:03 left before the Jawbreakers’ defense stood its ground in the end, thwarting numerous attempts from the Couriers, the last of which a fadeaway from Bonbon Batiller.
Mike Nzeusseu paced Zark’s-Lyceum with 27 points, 11 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks, while CJ Perez got 18 markers, six boards, five dimes, and two steals.
Ralph Tansingco stepped up big for the Jawbreakers, going 4-of-6 from downtown as he poured in 11 of his 16 points in the third quarter, where his side slowly built a 10-point cushion, 77-67, and even extended it to 14, 81-67, early in the payoff period.
Wangs-Letran made a huge rally to tie the game at 93 after a Batiller undergoal stab with 1:25 left.
“We have to give credit to Wangs. They really wanted to win it badly,” said coach Topex Robinson as he took responsibility for the near-collapse.
“I made the mistake. It’s my responsibility because I wanted to give the others a chance to play. It almost turned into a loss and it’s my responsibility.”
Robinson lauded how his boys’ composure in the endgame as the Jawbreakers climbed to 4-1 card.
“I know that now, we know how to finish games. These close games, we learn from our mistakes and it makes us sharper,” he said.
Bong Quinto led the Couriers, who absorbed their first loss with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists, while JP Calvo got 16 markers, three rebounds and five assists.
The Scores:
ZARK’S BURGER-LYCEUM 95 — Nzeusseu 27, Perez 18, Tansingco 16, Ayaay 11, Jv. Marcelino 8, Serrano 6, Jc. Marcelino 4, Baltazar 3, Santos 2, Caduyac 0, Cinco 0, Ibañez 0, Marata 0.
WANGS BASKETBALL-LETRAN 93 — Quinto 22, Calvo 16, Fajarito 13, Ambohot 11, Batiller 7, Muyang 6, Publico 6, Mandreza 5, Trinidad 3, Balanza 2, Taladua 2, Balagasay 0.
Quarters: 18-20, 46-45, 77-67, 95-93.