CJ Perez of Zark’s-Lyceum (right) gets away from Abu Tratter of Marinerong Pilipino during their D-League match. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Che’Lu Bar and Grill-San Sebastian College and Zark’s Burger-Lyceum swept their semifinal rivals to arrange a title clash in 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup on Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Che’Lu-SSC battled back from 19 points down to edge Akari-Adamson, 93-90, while Zark’s-Lyceum leaned on a big second half to decimate Marinerong Pilipino, 102-89, and win their Final Four series with two-game sweeps.
Jeff Viernes drilled the go-ahead jumper with 18.2 seconds left to give the Che’Lu Revellers a 92-90 advantage and applied pressure defense on the other end as Egie Boy Mojica’s layup rolled off the rim with 4.8 seconds left.
Viernes then settled the final score with a split from the foul line en route to a team-best 17 points, before Mojica botched another try from halfcourt as time expired.
“Even though he played bad at the start, it was still him who delivered us the win in the end,” said coach Stevenson Tiu of the veteran Viernes.
CJ Perez led the sixth-seeded Zark’s Jawbreakers with 23 points.
“Again, it’s just a blessing for us to be here,” said Che’Lu-SSC coach Topex Robinson. “We’re so grateful that we’re given the opportunity to play in the Finals.” —RANDOLPH B. LEONGSON, INQUIRER.NET