Banal sizzles as Scratchers claim PBA D-League crown

MANILA, Philippines — Gab Banal erupted for 31 points as Go for Gold doused a mad fourth quarter chase by Che’Lu Bar and Grill to hack out a 102-92 decision in their sudden death for the PBA D-League Foundation Cup crown at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig last night.

Banal drove to the basket to spark a decisive 8-0 run in the stretch he capped with a huge trey as the Scratchers restored a double-digit lead. He then poured in five more points to sustain their blistering finish on their way to snaring the title, which he dedicated to his dad, Joel Banal, who is recovering from a recent heart attack.

Banal played like man possessed, dropping 21 points in Go for Gold’s searing first half that helped power the team to a 55-40 lead which they stretched to 66-46 early in the third. He suffered cramps but came out of the final period still in fierce form to save the Scratchers in the face of the Revellers’ spirited comeback.

Hampered by a Game Four loss, 81-88, last Tuesday that allowed the top-seeded Revellers to pull level and force the rubber match in their best-of-five series, the No. 2 Scratchers recovered their bearing to complete their fightback from 0-1 down in the series.