The Go for Gold Scratchers remained on top of the 2018 PBA D-League Foundation Cup, thwarting a late rally from the AMA Online Education Titans, 86-83, Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Gab Banal scored the last six points for the Scratchers as he led his crew with 28 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks.
Kris Porter chimed in 14 points and five boards, as James Martinez got 10 on a 2-of-3 shooting from downtown.
The victory preserved Go for Gold’s immaculate 2-0 slate to gain early leadership in the second conference, but coach Charles Tiu isn’t resting on his laurels anytime soon given his side’s obvious lack of chemistry.
“No disrespect to the two teams we’ve faced, but it’s still like the preseason for us,” he said. “We haven’t really had that much of games. It’s just our fourth game as a team and wala pa yung chemistry.”
That deficiency was glaring as the Scratchers lost hold of a 14-point lead, 61-47, and allowed the Titans to wage a comeback as Owen Graham cut the lead down to three, 86-83 with 41.5 seconds remaining on the clock.
Martinez could not seal the deal on an open three on the other end, and needed Edcor Marata to muff his top-of-the-key three at the buzzer to come away with the squeaker.
“Ang dami naming turnovers,” Tiu rued as his side committed 23 miscues in the game. “It’s a cause of concern, but we’ll take the win. It’s not a nice win because we could’ve won by a bit more.”
Owen Graham had a better outing in his second game for AMA, finishing with 31 points and 24 rebounds, but the result was largely the same as his side fell to a 0-2 hole.
Domark Matillano also had 17 and six for the Titans.
The Scores:
Go for Gold 86 — Banal 28, Porter 14, Martinez 10, Desiderio 7, Salem 7, Dennison 6, Gaco 6, Tolentino 5, Reyes 3, Castor 0, Pili 0, Wong 0.
AMA 83 — Graham 31, Matillano 17, Liwag 12, Palencia 12, Soriano 8, Marata 3, Alao 0, Barde 0, Cariaga 0, Lao 0.
Quarterscores: 18-29, 51-46, 72-69, 86-83.
