MANILA – Paul Desiderio came up with clutch hits as Go for Gold Scratchers cruised to a 98-96 win over Che’Lu Bar and Grill Revellers in Game 3 of the 2018 PBA D-League Foundation Cup finals at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
With the Scratchers trailing at the final 1:05 minute of the match on Thursday, Desiderio unloaded back-to-back three-point conversions to push his team ahead 95-91.
The Revellers refused to lose. Jeff Viernes and Ilonggo Chris Bitoon came up with five straight points to tie the count at 96-all before Desiderio surged the Scratchers for good with a game-winning layup.
“Siyempre masarap na nanalo kami pero kailangan pa namin trabahuhin ‘yung Game 4,” said Desiderio. “Sabi ko nga, back to zero pa rin. Kailangan ‘yung mentality same pa rin. Championship ‘to eh. Dapat bigay buhay talaga.”
Desiderio finished the match with 28 points, with 22 coming in the second half, to go along with four rebounds.
The Scratchers surged ahead in the best-of-five series 2-1 and can take the title in Game 4 on Tuesday.
“I rode with Paul. I said, ‘Bahala ka. Get the ball, do whatever you want, just take us home,’ and he did,” Scratchers head coach Charles Tiu said on Cebuano guard Desiderio.
Gabriel Banal chipped in 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists while Vince Tolentino got 19 and five.
The Scratchers clawed their way back from a 16-point deficit, 62-46 in the third frame.
Viernes finished with 23 points, six assists, and three rebounds, while Levi Hernandez and Bitoon scored 17 points apiece for the Revellers, which is in danger of suffering its second consecutive runner-up finish./PN
