MANILA – Zark’s Burger-Lyceum Jawbreakers kept its 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup title hopes alive with a 98-90 win over Che’lu Bar and Grill-San Sebastian Revellers in Game 2 of the finals at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Tournament MVP Jaymar Perez led the way with 15 points on Thursday night. Jaycee Marcelino added 13 markers while Jesmar Ayaay and Mike Nzeusseu had 11 points each.
The victory also allowed the Jawbreakers, which was defeated by Revellers in Game 1 on April 24, to force a do-or-die Game 3 in the best-of-three titular showdown on Tuesday next week at the Pasig City Sports Center.
The Jawbreakers had a strong start in the game behind Perez, Marcelino, Wilson Baltazar and Nzeusseu to build a 27-16 after the first 12 minutes and widening it further to 54-34 at the half.
The Jawbreakers went up by as much as 23 points but the Revellers countered with a huge run behind Allyn Bulanadi to cut the deficit to 70-80. The Jawbreakers, though, quickly increase it back to 75-56 behind Marcelino.
The Jawbreakers maintained the advantage in the final quarter on baskets from Perez and Nzeusseu before the Revellers made its last run but only come to as close as 83-91.
“Again, we just have to battle our way. Just to have the peace of mind that we know we did our best, we’ll be at peace whatever the outcome is,” said Jawbreakers head coach Michael Robinson.
Bulanadi finished with 23 points, Raymond Ilagan added 13 markers, while Alfred Batino and Jayson David had 12 points each for the Revellers./PN
