Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
Che’Lu Bar and Grill-San Sebastian bucked a poor start to post an 80-72 come-from-behind win over Gamboa Coffee Mix-St. Clare on Thursday in the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup quarterfinal round at Pasig Sports Center.
Jeff Viernes and RK Ilagan teamed up in rescuing the Revellers, combining for 18 points in the payoff period, where they staged a 14-2 blast to seize the lead for good, 66-60, with 5:12 to go.
Che’Lu Bar and Grill-San Sebastian thus arranged a date against top seed Akari-Adamson University in the best-of-three semifinals.
Viernes announced his return to the D-League with 22 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals, while Ilagan dropped eight of his 10 points in that final frame, to go with nine boards and four assists.
Che’Lu-San Sebastian got a huge boost from its new recruits, with Cedrick Ablaza pouring in nine points and snaring 12 rebounds, while Jay-R Taganas had five points and eight boards.
“Although they are new in our team. I feel that they were the ones who carried us in the end game,” said coach Stevenson Tiu, as the Revellers trailed 11-24 early and stared at a 52-58 deficit in the fourth.
Samboy de Leon remained a solid cog for the Revellers with nine points and six rebounds.
Chris Bitoon kept the Coffee Lovers in the thick of things with his 19 points and seven rebounds, while Joshua Fontanilla was a surprise boost with his 13.
Unfortunately, Filipino-American guard Trevis Jackson could only muster 11 points on a 4-of-12 shooting as Gamboa-St. Clare saw its dream playoff run come to a halt in the quarterfinals.
In the other game, CJ Perez towed Zark’s Burger-Lyceum to a 104-95 victory over Centro Escolar University to force a winner-take-all match on Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig. —RANDOLPH B. LEONGSON, INQUIRER.NET
FIRST GAME
CHE’LU BAR AND GRILL-SAN SEBASTIAN 80—Viernes 22, Ilagan 10, Ablaza 9, De Leon 9, Bulanadi 7, Batino 6, Costelo 6, Taganas 5, Collado 4, Faundo 2, Siruma 0.
GAMBOA COFFEE MIX-ST. CLARE 72—Bitoon 19, Fontanilla 13, Dionisio 12, Pare 12, Jackson 11, Rubio 5, Decano 0, Hallare 0.
Quarters: 16-27, 37-40, 52-56, 80-72