Go for Gold shimmers vs Gamboa Coffee five

MANILA, Philippines — Go for Gold mounted a second half charge and thumped Gamboa Coffee Mix, 75-68, to join Marinerong Pilipino in the early lead in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Pasig City Sports Center yesterday.

Clement Leutcheu poured in seven of his 14 points in the last quarter to anchor the Scratchers’ fightback from 10 points down in the second quarter.

Go for Gold finally grabbed the lead at 52-51 on Leutcheu’s undergoal stab late in the third and sat on a seven-point cushion, 62-55, with 6:05 to go in the game.

Matt Salem and Unique Naboa then hit three-pointers as the Scratchers stayed in control before Jerwin Gaco came through with a four-point binge to ward off the Coffee Lovers, who threatened last at 68-71.

“We’re a new team so we’re not that familiar yet with each other. We needed a test like this to learn as a young team,” said Go for Gold coach Charles Tiu.

Mike Calisaan fired 20 points as Che’Lu Bar and Grill-SSC-R waylaid Perpetual Help, 83-70, in the other game.

The Revellers actually trailed at the half, 34-38, but outscored the the Altas, 25-15, in the third on their way to the 14-point romp that spoiled Frankie Lim’s coaching debut for the Altas.

Samboy de Leon shot 16 points, Kent Ilagan wound up with 13 markers while Jeepy Faundo and Alfred Batino chipped in 10 points each for the Revellers.

“I think our defense was very good in the fourth quarter. We cut down our turnovers and we rebounded well. We made the right decisions because we weren’t making good decisions at the start of the game,” added Tiu.

Leutcheu also grabbed seven rebounds and made one steal, Gaco and Justin Gutang combined for 23 markers while Salem and Naboa finished with eight points apiece.

Kent Salado shot nine points, grabbed five rebounds, dished off four assists and had three steals for the Scratchers before being carried off the court on a possible MCL injury he incurred at the 2:19 mark of the third period.

Aris Dionisio had 19 points, Raymond Rubio scored 11 while Mohammad Pare added 10 for the Coffee Lovers.

The scores:

Go for Gold 75 – Leutcheu 14, Gaco 13, Gutang 10, Salado 9, Naboa 8, Salem 8, Alejandro 5, Dixon 3, Pili 2, San Juan 2, Domingo 1.

Gamboa Coffee 68 – Dionisio 19, Rubio 11, Pare 10, Ambuludto 8, Hallare 6, Rebugio 6, Jackson 4, Acuno 2, Bitoon 2, Alcober 0.

Quarterscores: 14-19, 30-33, 52-53, 75-68