Zark’s Burger-Lyceum overcame a late challenge by Wangs Basketball-Letran to escape with a 95-93 win and its fourth straight victory in the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup Monday at Pasig Sports Center.
Jaycee Marcelino scored the deciding basket with 1:03, nailing a floater off an assist from MJ Ayaay.
The Jawbreakers’ defense stood its ground in the return play, thwarting numerous attempts from the Couriers, the last of which was a fadeaway from Bonbon Batiller.
Mike Nzeusseu paced Zark’s-Lyceum, which rose to
4-1, with 27 points and 11 rebounds while reigning NCAA Most Valuable Player CJ Perez added 18 points.
“Wangs wanted to win as badly,” said coach Topex Robinson as he took responsibility for the near-collapse. “I wanted to give others a chance to play and it almost turned into a loss.”
Later, Prince Eze recorded a rare triple-double to power Perpetual Help to an 88-72 rout of Jose Rizal University.
Eze dominated with 24 points, 20 rebounds and a record-setting 11 blocks to become just the fifth player in D-League history to achieve the feat.
The Altas halted the Bombers’ two-game run to tie their victims at 2-1. —RANDOLPH B. LEONGSON, INQUIRER.NET