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| Rey Publico came up with clutch moments for Wang's-Letran. PBA Media Bureau |
PASIG--Wang's Basketball-Letran turned to Rey Publico with the game on the line and the Couriers held off University of Perpetual Help, 88-83, in an exciting matchup on Thursday in the PBA D-League Aspirants' Cup at the Ynares Arena.
Publico scored six of his team's last 10 points as the Couriers dismissed repeated threats by the Altas, who kept the game close until the closing seconds.
Publico led the Couriers with 17 points and his jumper with 54 seconds left in the game gave Wang's Basketball-Letran an 84-83 lead.
Prince Eze made it a one point game with seven seconds later before Batiller scored on a layup and Bong Quinto made two free throws with 10 ticks remaining to close out scoring.
Couriers coach Jeff Napa admitted they played poorly but was glad anyway that his team came out the winner.
"A win is a win. Buti na lang noong second half, medyo naging agresibo kami kaya nakabalik," he said.
Quinto finished with 14 points, John Calvo had 12 and six assists while Jerrick Balanza and Christian Fajarito added 10 apiece for the Couriers, who improved to 4-2 record to stay in the race for playoff berths.
It was tough loss for the Altas, who absorbed their fourth defeat in six games. They had a sluggish first quarter, fell behind by 15 but picked up the pace in the second period to get back in the game.
Perpetual grabbed a 49-44 lead on two free throws by AJ Coronel early in the third. The Altas were still ahead with under three minutes left in the period before Fajarito hit successive jumpers during a 6-2 run that gave Wangs Basketball-Letran a 65-62 lead entering the fourth.
The Couriers never looked back after that.
Edgar Charcos led all scororers with 29 points while Eze had a double-double with 26 points and 12 rebounds for Perpetual, which had 29-14 advantage on turnover points and 54-46 edge on points in the paint. The Altas also enjoyed a 32-17 advantage on fastbreak points.
The Scores:
WANG'S BASKETBALL-LETRAN 88 -- Publico 17, Quinto 14, Calvo 12, Balanza 10, Fajarito 10, Batiller 8, Mandreza 6, Ambohot 4, Yu 3, Balagasay 2, Trinidad 2, Taladua 0.
PERPETUAL 83 -- Charcos 29, Eze 26, Coronel 8, Peralta 8, Villanueva 6, Aurin 2, Mangalino 2, Tiburcio 2, Pido 0, Tamayo 0.
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