Jawbreakers keep playoff bid, smother Scratchers

MANILA, Philippines — Zark’s Burgers-Lyceum regained its winning ways as it smothered Go for Gold, 108-94, to stay in the playoff hunt in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao yesterday.

The Jawbreakers wrested control early behind Mike Nzeusseu, Jesper Ayaay, CJ Perez and Spencer Pretta then warded off the Scratchers’ late charge on their way to checking their three-game skid for a 5-4 card at seventh.

“It’s just a reminder for us to play our game. What’s important is we learn from our mistakes and try to get better all the time,” said Jawbreakers coach Topex Robinson.

Zark’s Burgers-LPU raced to a 27-point bulge, 81-54, late in the third period but Go for Gold, with Matt Salem on the firing end, threatened to within eight, 83-91, with 5:37 left in the match.

Jaycee Marcelino, however, atoned for an endgame blunder in the Jawbreakers’ previous outing as he combined with twin brother Jayvee in a key run to restore a double-digit spread for Zark’s Burgers-LPU.

Perez finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block, Nzeusseu tallied double-double numbers of 21 points and 11 boards, Ayaay scored 16 points, Jaycee Marcelino had 15 markers while Pretta and Jayvee Marcelino combined for 17 points for the Jawbreakers.

Salem drilled in six triples for a game-high 24 markers, Yankee Haruna turned in 22 points while Clement Leutcheu added 12 for the Scratchers who fell to their third straight defeat and slid to eighth at 4-6.

Earlier, University of Perpetual Help thwarted AMA Online Education’s furious chase at the finish to hack out an 89-81 victory and keep its own playoff hopes alive.

John Villanueva drained a triple to give the Altas an eight-point cushion in the stretch then Prince Eze sealed it with a floater as UPHSD improved to 3-5 but remained at ninth.

The Titans bowed out of contention with a woeful 1-7 card.

The scores:

First Game

Perpetual 89 — Eze 22, Peralta 17, Charcos 13, Villanueva 13, Precillas 10, Coronel 8, Tiburcio 3, Salvador 2, Mangalino 1, Antonio 0, Aurin 0, Pido 0, Tamayo 0.

AMA Online Education 81 — Manalang 23, Martinez 18, Lao 15, Antonares 10, C. Escalambre 9, Quijano 3, Taganas 2, J. Escalambre 1, Garcia 0, Velasquez 0.

Quarterscores: 22-18, 41-36, 70-51, 89-81

Second Game

Zark’s Burger-Lyceum 108 — Perez 23, Nzeusseu 21, Ayaay 16, Jc. Marcelino 15, Pretta 9, Jv. Marcelino 8, Caduyac 6, Baltazar 3, Tansingco 3, Marata 2, Yong 2, Ibañez 0, Santos 0, Serrano 0.

Go for gold 94 — Salem 24, Haruna 22, Leutcheu 12, Desiderio 8, Alejandro 7, Gaco 5, Naboa 5, Gutang 4, Dixon 3, Domingo 2, Ocampo 2, Pasturan 0.

Quarterscores: 36-23, 63-44, 83-66, 108-94