Jeff Viernes powered the Che’Lu Revellers to a 139-101 evisceration of the AMA Online Education Titans Thursday in the 2018 PBA D-League Foundation Cup at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The former GlobalPort guard drilled seven treys en route to his game-high 35 points, alongside four assists, three rebounds, and three steals to lead Revellers back to the top of the standings with their 6-2 record.
Levi Hernandez bounced back big with his 22 points, 17 coming in the second half, to go with six boards and four assists.
Jason Melano tallied a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Chris Bitoon scored 12 points and four assists in the blowout.
Coach Stevenson Tiu, though, used this game as a chance to test his seldom-used players in preparation for the playoffs.
“When is good enough? Di naman pare-pareho ang makakalaban, kaya dapat yung intensity natin, dapat pare-parehas. Kailangan ayusin natin yung mga bad habits sa mga ganitong laro,” he said. “Yung mga games na ito ang pwede namin i-test yung ibang players para pagdating sa playoffs, handa sila.”
Che’Lu broke away in the second quarter as it erupted for 31 points to jump to a 60-42 halftime advantage. The lead further swelled to 40, 136-96, with a Dawn Ochea bucket as the Revellers hardly broke a sweat in the rout.
Andre Paras carried the also-ran Titans (0-8) with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while John Carlo Garcia and Ken Soriano both notched 15 each.
The Scores:
Che’Lu 139 – Viernes 35, Hernandez 22, Bitoon 12, Melano 12, Collado 11, Siruma 10, Ng 9, Flores 8, Lao 5, Taganas 5, Mallari 4, Sta. Ana 4, Ochea 2.
AMA 101 – Paras 16, Garcia 15, Soriano 15, Graham 13, Jordan 9, Matillano 8, Escalambre 7, Serrano 6, Calma 5, Nacpil 3, Rivera 2, Sabile 2, Alao 0, Barde 0.
Quarterscores: 29-20, 60-42, 99-83, 139-101.
