Wangs Basketball caught a big fish in Marinerong Pilipino, 88-78, in the 2019 PBA D-League on Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Arvin Tolentino poured 32 points on a 3-of-7 shooting from long distance, alongside 12 rebounds and four blocks to help the Couriers rise to 2-1 in the Foundation Group.
The troika of Gelo Vito, Darius Estrella, and Radge Tongco helped Wangs halt Marinerong Pilipino’s two-game win run with a stupendous defensive job in the fourth quarter.
The Couriers forced the Skippers to miss their first eight shots as they staged a 13-0 tear to swing the game from a 58-57 lead to a commanding 71-57 edge with 6:31 left on the clock.
Not even the heroics of Felix Apreku and Jed Mendoza could stop Wangs as Tolentino punctuated the win with a tough and-one over Art Aquino to made it a 10-point affair anew, 80-70, with 2:32 left.
Vito wound up with 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists off the bench. Estrella chipped in 10 points and five boards, and Tongco had 11 points and three assists for the Couriers.