The Batangas-EAC Generals piled on the woes for the suddenly-skidding Go for Gold Scratchers, as they dealt an 87-85 shocker in the 2018 PBA D-League Foundation Cup, Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Cyrus Tabi drained the game-winning layup at the buzzer for the Generals as they kept themselves in the running in the playoff race at 3-3, while also stunning the erstwhile-leading Scratchers.
“I wasn’t expecting this knowing na Go for Gold is very strong individually. I think we’re just lucky that we got this one,” said coach Oliver Bunyi.
New acquisition Michael Mabulac dropped 19 points and 11 rebounds, but his most important play came late, as he tipped the ball off of James Martinez and led to Clark Bautista dishing out the leather to Tabi for the game-clinching play.
It was an impressive show of poise from the Generals, which rose from a deficit as high as 11 – and even trailed by 10, 75-65, in the early goings of the payoff period.
Bautista chipped in 16 points and seven boards for Batangas-EAC. Tabi poured in 13.
Kris Porter saw his 22 points and six rebounds go down the drain, as Go for Gold absorbed their second defeat to fall to 4-2.
Martinez and Ron Dennison combined for 24 in the defeat.
The Scores:
Batangas-EAC 87 — Mabulac 19, Bautista 16, Tabi 13, De Joya 7, Dela Peña 6, Derige 5, De Guzman 5, Laude 5, Arim 4, Austria 4, Manalo 3, Mendoza 0, Saldana 0.
Go for Gold 85 — Porter 22, Dennison 12, Martinez 12, Salem 10, Banal 6, Desiderio 6, Gaco 6, Reyes 5, Cipriano 3, Pili 3, Wong 0.
Quarterscores: 20-22, 47-48, 62-70, 87-85.
