Scratchers, Revellers clinch PBA D-League Final 4 seats

MANILA, Philippines — Go for Gold bucked the absence of key players as it smothered Centro Escolar University with a big run in the second half to fashion out a 75-60 victory and secure one of the two semifinal seats in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig yesterday.

Rey Publico logged a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds, Paul Desidero came through with 17 markers while Matt Salem punched in 16 points as the troika more than made up for the absence of Gab Banal (personal commitment), Jerwin Gaco (flu) and injury-hit James Martinez and Ron Dennison to propel the Scratchers to their sixth win against two losses for a share of the lead with the Che’Lu Bar and Grill Revellers.

“I’m happy we won and we played defense for once,” said Go for Gold coach Charles Tiu.

The Scratchers and the Revellers later clinched the first two seats in the Final Four after Marinerong Pilipino-Technological Institute of the Philippines turned back Batangas-Emilio Aguinaldo College, 80-74, later in the day.

The Scorpions slid to fourth with a 4-4 mark.

Desiderio and Jai Reyes combined to rally the Scratchers from a 38-43 deficit midway in the third period then Salem joined in the fray for Go for Gold to pull away.

In the other match, the Engineers struggled three-fourths of the way but used a big fourth quarter turnaround to frustrate the Generals and stretch their win run to three for solo third at 5-3.

Trevis Jackson, Kimley Medina, new addition Irven Palencia and Jorey Napoles combined for all but one of the Engineers’ 32-point output in the fourth while limiting the Generals to nine to overhaul a 17-point deficit, 48-65, at the end of the third on their way to victory.

“Positive attitude creates positive results. At first, we were not getting our bearing. During the halftime, I told them you will not be in this team if you are not a winner. Now, winners find ways to win and turn things around and that’s what they did,” said Marinerong Pilipino coach Koy Banal.

Jackson rifled in 20 points, Robbie Manalang had 11, Napoles and Palencia 10 apiece while Medina scored all his nine points in the fourth for the Engineers.