The Petron-Letran Knights pulled off a great 91-90 escape against the St. Clare College-Virtual Reality, Tuesday afternoon in the 2019 PBA D-League at JCSGO Gym in Cubao.
Alvin Pasaol started off hot with his 10 first-quarter points to guide his side to a 31-11 advantage. He then imposed his might late, dropping eight of the Knights’ last 11 points. Pasaol registered 28 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in the win.
Jerrick Balanza also churned out a solid 22 points and five rebounds, as well as the go-ahead assist for a Christian Balagasay layup with 13 ticks left that shifted the lead back to Petron-Letran.
Saints guard Paul Santos had a chance to steal the game with a baseline jumper, but his teammate Junjie Hallare was whistled for an offensive foul for a moving screen in the final 1.7 seconds which all but dashed their side’s hopes after crawling back from a deficit as big as 28, 48-20, in the first half.
“Moving screen eh,” said coach Bonnie Tan. “Hindi naman ako referee, but in my view, ganoon yung nangyari.”
Jeo Ambohot added a double-double with his 11 points and nine rebounds, while Jeremiah Taladua fired 11.
The win allowed the Knights to claim solo third place in the Aspirants Group at 5-2, while dropping the Saints to fourth at 4-2.
Hallare carried St. Clare with 22 points, 13 coming in the fourth frame, alongside his seven rebounds.
The Scores:
Petron-Letran 91 — Pasaol 28, Balanza 22, Ambohot 11, Taladua 11, Balagasay 6, Caralipio 4, Olivario 4, Reyson 2, Ular 2, Sangalang 1, Mina 0.
St. Clare 90 — Hallare 22, Pare 20, Rivera 18, Fontanilla 9, Rubio 8, Lunor 8, Santos 3, Palencia 2, Fuentes 0.
Quarterscores: 34-13, 54-35, 74-55, 91-90.
