Perez, Zark’s Lyceum force winner-take-all Game 3 in D-League finals

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

Zark’s Burger-Lyceum dealt Che’Lu Bar and Grill-San Sebastian a 98-90 defeat on Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig to send the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup Finals to a winner-take-all Game 3.

Newly-minted Conference MVP CJ Perez led the Jawbreakers’ signature balanced attack, finishing the game with 15 points, seven rebounds, and four assists as all but one of the 12 players coach Topex Robinson inserted in the game scored.

Jaycee Marcelino came off the bench and added 13 points, while Mike Nzeusseu had a double-double with 11 points, 11 boards, two assists, and two blocks for Zark’s-Lyceum.

MJ Ayaay also got 11 points, six rebounds, and five assists.

“Again, we just have to battle our way. Just to have the peace of mind that we know we did our best, we’ll be at peace whatever the outcome is,” said Robinson.

The deciding Game 3 if set for Tuesday still at Ynares Sports Arena.

The Jawbreakers came hot off the gates, unleashing a 21-8 opening salvo to establish a 20-point halftime lead, 52-32.

RK Ilagan and Allyn Bulanadi, though, kept Che’Lu-San Sebastian fighting in the fourth quarter, staging a killer run that got it within six, 96-90 ,with a pair of freebies from Jayson David in the final 6.7 seconds.

Bur Jayvee Marcelino got away and iced the game at the free throw line in the with 5.4 ticks left.

Zark’s-Lyceum’s defense held on this time, forcing the Revellers to shoot only 37-percent from the field compared to its 44-percent, which more than made up for the 44-67 rebounding discrepancy.

Bulanadi paced Che’Lu-San Sebastian with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Ilagan got 13 points on a 2-of-7 sniping from downtown in the defeat.

The Scores:

ZARK’S BURGER-LYCEUM 98 — Perez 15, Jc. Marcelino 13, Ayaay 11, Nzeusseu 11, Baltazar 10, Yong 9, Pretta 8, Ibañez 7, Caduyac 6, Jv. Marcelino 6, Tansingco 2, Serrano 0.

CHE’LU BAR AND GRILL-SAN SEBASTIAN 90 — Bulanadi 23, Ilagan 13, Batino 12, David 12, Costelo 11, Calisaan 7, De Leon 5, Ablaza 4, Siruma 3, Capobres 0, Collado 0, Faundo 0, Taganas 0.

Quarters: 27-16, 54-34, 75-56, 98-90.