D-League: Che’lu rallies past Enderun, keeps playoff push alive

MANILA, Philippines – Che’lu Bar and Grill kept its playoff push alive in the 2019 PBA D-League after a 77-72 comeback win over FamilyMart-Enderun at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao on Monday, May 20.

With the key win, Steve Tiu’s squad maintained a two-way tie with Petron-Letran at 6-3 for the 3rd spot in the Aspirants Group. Enderun, meanwhile, stayed at the cellar with McDavid, carrying identical 1-7 slates.

“No matter what happens, we should end with a win,” Tiu said after the game. “Our fate is not in our hands. We’re just hoping for the better for now.”

Alfred Batino spearheaded the balanced attack with a game-high 14-point, 17-rebound double-double. Steely-eyed scorers Jeff Viernes and Rey Suerte each sparked the Che’lu bench with 13 markers apiece in the win.

Down by as many as 15 points in the 2nd quarter, Che’lu picked it up when it mattered most late in the 4th.

After Fonso Gotladera widened Enderun’s gap to 7 at the 3:40 mark, the Revellers unleashed a 12-0 barrage highlighted by a Viernes go-ahead triple, 75-72.

Off the timeout, John Vidal capped off a 0-of-7 shooting night with a costly turnover that turned to two game-sealing free-throws by Jay Collado on the other end.

Enderun’s late collapse wasted Gotladera’s 17-point effort off the bench on 8-of-10 shooting. Brandon Chauca paced the starting 5 with 18 markers and 8 boards.

In the other game of the day, SMDC-NU ended their D-League campaign on a high note with a 100-74 drubbing of Perpetual Help.

Rising star Dave Ildefonso led the Bulldogs with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists, while fellow blue chip recruit John Lloyd Clemente chipped in 16 markers in 16 minutes off the bench.

Patrick Yu also erupted for 13 points as NU finished with a 4-5 record for the season.

Rey Peralta dragged Perpetual to the finish line and a 2-7 record with 18 points, while Kim Aurin added 12.

The Scores

Che’lu vs FamilyMart

Che’lu 77 – Batino 14, Viernes 13, Suerte 13, Bautista 10, Dagangon 9, Collado 7, Dumapig 4, Taganas 3, Manalang 2, Siruma 2, Gabo 0, Bringas 0, Ng 0.

FamilyMart-Enderun 72 – Chauca 18, Gotladera 17, Hayes 13, Escoto 9, Kuoakou 3, Nunez 3, Gatdula 3, Dungan 3, Vidal 2, Sacundo 1, Tancioco 0, Dela Cruz 0.

Quarters: 12-22, 38-42, 54-62, 77-72.

SMDC-NU vs Perpetual

SMDC-NU 100 – D. Ildefonso 20, Clemente 16, Yu 13, Gaye 11, Mangayao 8, Gallego 7, Rangel 7, Mosqueda 6, Tibayan 5, Diputado 5, Minerva 2, Oczon 0, Joson 0, Abatayo 0.

Perpetual 74 – Peralta 18, Aurin 12, Adamos 11, Charcos 9, Sese 6, Martel 5, Guissani 4, Pasia 3, Razon 2, Egan 2, Cuevas 2, Lanoy 0, Tamayo 0.

Quarters: 22-15, 43-36, 67-49, 100-74.

– Rappler.com