JEFF Viernes came up huge in his first game back in the Philippines, scoring 22 points to lift Che’Lu Bar and Grill-San Sebastian to an 80-72 win over Gamboa Coffee Mix-St. Clare in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup quarterfinals at the Pasig Sports Center.
Viernes, coming off a stint in the Thailand professional league, scored 10 points in the fourth quarter as the fourth-seeded Revellers completed a comeback from 13 points down.
Che’Lu will face Akari-Adamson in the best-of-three semifinals.
Tiu admitted the Revellers struggled to adjust quickly, with the addition of other new players in MPBL cagers Tep Siruma, Jessie Collado and Jay-R Taganas, and PBA D-League player Cedrick Ablaza of Batangas-Emilio Aguinaldo College, but managed to eke out the win.
“Nadagdagan kami ng mga players pero I feel na sila ang nag-carry sa end game namin,” said Tiu,
Viernes had a three-point play in a 14-5 run that that put Che’Lu ahead by six after trailing by two, 60-58.
RK Ilagan added 10 points and nine rebounds for the Revellers.
Chris Bitoon had 19 points and Trevis Jackson had 11 points for the fifth seed Coffee Lovers.
The scores:
Che’Lu San Sebastian 80 - Viernes 22, Ilagan 10, De Leon 9, Ablaza 9, Bulanadi 7, Costelo 6, Batino 6, Taganas 5, Collado 4, Faundo 2, Siruma 0.
Gamboa St. Clare 72 - Bitoon 19, Fontanilla 13, Pare 12, Dionisio 12, Jackson 11, Rubio 5, Decano 0, Hallare 0.
Quarterscores: 16-27; 37-40; 52-56; 80-72.
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