Che’Lu Bar and Grill’s Rey Suerte challenges the defense of Dave Ando Ironcon UST. Contributed photo | PBA Images
Cebu City, Philippines—Reigning Cesafi MVP Rey Anthony Suerte punched in 27 points to help Che’Lu Bar and Grill keep its playoff hopes alive with a 92-80 win over Ironcon-UST in the 2019 PBA D-League at JCSGO Gym in Cubao on Monday, April 6, 2019.
Suerte, the former University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancer star, who is set to play for the University of the East in the UAAP, capped the killer 19-0 fourth quarter stretch for the Revellers with the last eight points that turned a tight 70-66 lead to a commanding 89-66 advantage with 3:07 left on the clock.
Gab Dagangon was as solid in his debut with 17 points and three rebounds, while another former Cesafi product, ex-University of Cebu bruiser Alfred Batino had 14 points and six boards in the Che’Lu win.
The victory allowed the Revellers to stay in the hunt for a spot in the Aspirants Group top four at 4-3 (win-loss), while dealing the Growling Tigers their second defeat in their last three games to fall to 5-2.
It was a sorry defeat for Ironcon-UST, which crawled back from an 18-point deficit, 65-47 and got to within two, 65-63 in the waning moments of the third frame.
That run, however, fell flat in the end as Batino and Suerte delivered the daggers in the payoff period.
The Scores:
CHE’LU 92 — Suerte 27, Dagangon 17, Batino 14, Viernes 12, P. Manalang 7, Collado 5, Gabo 4, Taganas 2, Bautista 2, Siruma 2, Bringas 0, Dumapig 0.
IRONCON-UST 80 — Concepcion 24, Chabi Yo 18, Abando 16, Nonoy 9, Paraiso 6, Ando 2, Lee 2, Huang 2, Pangilinan 1, Asuncion 0, Bataller 0, Yongco 0, Herrera 0, Marcos 0.
Quarters: 22-17, 44-39, 70-63, 92-80.