The Che’Lu-San Sebastian Revellers leaned on their hot start to topple the Zark’s-Lyceum Jawbreakers, 97-88, Tuesday afternoon at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao.
Alfred Batino exploded for 24 points and 13 rebounds. Samboy de Leon ignited the superb start and unleashed 21 markers on a 8-of-15 shooting clip, while also hauling down nine boards.
Michael Calisaan celebrated his 23rd birthday with 13 points and eight rebounds, but left the game in the third quarter after suffering an elbow injury.
De Leon kickstarted the Revellers’ 16-0 opening salvo, extending the lead to as high as 21, 31-10, in the first quarter, to stun the shell-shocked Jawbreakers.
Jaycee Marcelino attempted to rally Zark’s-Lyceum late, cutting the deficit to as low as seven, 93-86, but Ryan Costelo cooly canned his freebies in the waning seconds to hand Che’Lu-San Sebastian their third straight victory.
The Revellers improved to 5-3, while sending the Jawbreakers to their second straight defeat and fall to 4-3
“Hopefully ito na yung sign na maganda na talaga ang jelling namin. Hopefully makapasok kami sa semifinals,” said coach Stevenson Tiu.
Marcelino carried Zark’s-Lyceum with 15 points, seven rebounds, and four steals off the bench, while Spencer Pretta had 14 markers on a 4-of-10 three-point shooting.
The Scores:
Che’Lu-San Sebastian 97 — Batino 24, De Leon 21, Calisaan 13, Bulanadi 9, Faundo 9, Ilagan 6, Siruma 5, Collado 2, Jeruta 2, David 0.
Zark’s-Lyceum 88 — Jc. Marcelino 15, Pretta 14, Jv. Marcelino 13, Perez 9, Santos 7, Tansingco 7, Baltazar 6, Ibañez 6, Caduyac 5, Yong 4, Serrano 2, Marata 0, Liwag 0.
Quarterscores: 35-18, 51-43, 77-62, 97-88.