PBA D-League
Finals 2018:

Go for Gold captures Foundation Cup crown

August 23, 2018 – Ynares Arena

By Rock Punzalan

PBA D-League Finals News 2018: Go for Gold Scratchers captured the Foundation Cup crown by beating Che’Lu Bar and Grill Revellers, 102-92, in the 2018 PBA D-League Finals this Thursday at the Ynares Sports Arena. Gab Banal played with MVP-like numbers as he paced the Scratchers with 31 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, while Matt Salem added 15 buckets.

Notes:

Kris Porter also contributed stellar numbers for Go for Gold as he finished with 14 markers and 4 caroms.

Chris Bitoon consoled the losing Che’Lu with his 20 points, while Jayson Melano chipped-in 17 markers and 8 boards.

Banal poured 21 points at the half but got replaced before the third canto due to leg cramps. However, he defied odds as he came back with barely five minutes left in the fourth to lift Go for Gold over a determined Che’Lu squad.

➤ Go for Gold finished the Finals skirmish with a 3-2 series victory over the Revellers.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 27-18, 55-40, 83-65, 102-92.

go for gold: 102

Banal 31, Salem 15, Porter 14, Dennison 11, Reyes 9, Tolentino 8, Canada 6, Desiderio 6, Gaco 2, Publico 0.

che'lu: 92

Bitoon 20, Melano 17, Viernes 15, Hernandez 13, Collado 11, Taganas 8, Siruma 6, Ruaya 2, de Joya 0..

Posted on August 24, 2018 - Ynares Arena, Pasig

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

D-League Finals 2018:

Che'Lu defeats Go for Gold, 88-81

August 21, 2018 – Ynares

D-League Finals News 2018: Che’Lu Bar and Grill Revellers defeated Go for Gold Scratchers, 88-81, in Game 4 of the PBA D-League Foundation Cup Finals 2018. Crowned MVP Jeff Viernes backstopped the Revellers with 18 points, while Jessie Collado added 16 markers.

Notes:

➤ Gab Banal paced the losing Scratchers with 20 buckets and 10 rebounds,  as Matthew Salem and Rey Publico also chipped-in 14 markers apiece.

➤ Six Che’Lu players finished the game with 10 points or more.

➤ Viernes is the first ex-PBA cager in history to have won a PBA D-League MVP trophy.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 24-16, 47-44, 67-65, 88-81.

che'lu: 88

Viernes 18, Collado 16, Bitoon 14, Siruma 11, Hernandez 10, Taganas 10, Melano 8, Ruaya 1, de Joya 0.

go for gold: 81

Banal 20, Salem 14, Publico 14, Reyes 12, Desiderio 8, Gaco 6, Tolentino 5, Dennison 2, Canada 0, Porter 0, Wong 0.

Posted on August 22, 2018 - Ynares Center

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

D-League Finals 2018:

Go for Gold beats Che'Lu, 98-96

August 16, 2018 – Ynares Sports

D-League Finals 2018: Go for Gold Scratchers beat Che’Lu Bar and Grill, 98-96, to lead 2-1 in Game 3 of the PBA D-League Foundation Cup Finals 2018 this Thursday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig. Paul Desiderio powered the Scratchers with his 28 points and 5 rebounds, while Gab Banal dropped 11 markers, 8 boards and 6 dishes.

Notes:

➤ It was Desiderio’s last shot that sealed the victory for the Scratchers. With three ticks left in the ballgame, he drove hard to the basket to beat the 96-all deadlock.

➤ Jeff Viernes led the losing Che’Lu with 23 buckets and 6 dimes. Meanwhile, Levi Hernandez and Christopher Bitoon also contributed with 19 points apiece.

 Go for Gold and Che’Lu will once again duke it out for Game Four of the Developmental League Finals this Tuesday, August 21.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 22-21, 38-52, 63-71, 98-96.

go for gold: 98

Desiderio 28, Banal 11, Tolentino 10, Reyes 9, Publico 9, Dennison 8, Wong 8, Porter 7, Salem 5, Canada 3, Gaco 0.

che'lu: 96

Viernes 23, Hernandez 17, Bitoon 17, Collado 12, Melano 11, Taganas 5, de Joya 4, Siruma 3, Ochea 2, Ruaya 2, Sta. Ana 0.

Posted on August 16, 2018 - Ynares Sports Pasig

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

MPBL 2018:

Banal powers Bacoor Strikers over Laguna Heroes, 91-86

August 15, 2018 – Strike Gymnasium

MPBL News 2018: Gab Banal powered the Bacoor Strikers over Laguna Heroes, 91-86, in the ongoing Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup this Tuesday at Strike Gymnasium in Bacoor. Banal fired 25 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists, while Mark Montuano added 20 buckets, 9 boards and 2 steals.

Notes:

Banal, who came-off a grueling game earlier in the day at the PBA D-League Finals, dropped 10 buckets all in the fourth quarter.

Leonardo de Vera also contributed 17 points, while Chris Sumalinog had 15 goals.

Former PBA star Denok Meranda paced the losing Heroes with 29 markers on tournament record 13 three point bombs. 

Bacoor is now 4-2 in the Datu Cup, while Laguna fell to a 2-4 win-loss slate.

Posted August 15, 2018 - Strike Gymnasium Bacoor

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

MPBL News:

Pampanga Lanterns escapes Bacoor Strikers, 81-80

July 3, 2018 – Olivarez College Gym Parañaque

MPBL News 2018: Pampanga Lanterns escaped Bacoor Strikers, 81-80, in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup 2018 this Tuesday at the Olivarez College Gym in Parañaque. Juneric Baloria topscored for the Lanterns with 24 points including the game-dagger freethrows in crunch time.

Notes:

➤ Both the Lanterns and the Strikers now have identical 1-1 records.

➤ The Bacoor Strikers were led by Gab Banal and Chris Sumalinog who scored 21 and 17 buckets respectively.

➤ Pampanga missed the services of Jimbo Aquino (suspended) and Michael Juico (injured).

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

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