PBA D-League: Go for Gold lives to fight another day after Gab Banal’s winning 3

MANILA, Philippines—Gab Banal sank the game-winning triple as Go for Gold-College of St. Benilde survived Centro Escolar University, 84-81, to force a deciding game in the 2019 PBA D-League quarterfinals Tuesday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Banal nailed the go-ahead basket with 17.5 seconds remaining to help the Scratchers avoid a total meltdown after it blew a 20-point lead.

“I’m happy that we’re still alive,” said Go for Gold-CSB coach Charles Tiu. “We probably deserve to lose the game. We were up big and seems like we never learn. The maturity is still isn’t there.”

Roosevelt Adams fired a game-high 26 points that went with 13 rebounds while Banal finished with 12 points on top of five rebounds and six assists.

Newcomer Santi Santillan contributed 15 points and six rebounds while Justin Gutang finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, and five assists to give the Scratchers a big boost.

Judel Fuentes scored 22 points, including 10 in the fourth to spearhead the Scorpions’ fightback, while Maodo Malick Diouf had 14 points and 17 rebounds in a losing effort.

Go for Gold and CEU dispute a semis spot on Thursday.