The Che’lu Bar and Grill Revellers just got served a taste of their own medicine in Game Three of the 2018 PBA D-League Foundation Cup Finals, Thursday.
The Revellers won Game One by coming back from 15 down, and the Go for Gold Scratchers made them feel what it’s like to lose in the same fashion by crawling from a 16-point deficit in the third quarter and emerge with a 98-96 victory.
The Scratchers had Paul Desiderio to thank for the win, as he scored eight of their last nine points, including the game-winning lay-up after attacking the defense of Levi Hernandez with over three seconds left to play.
“Yung Go for Gold anytime kahit sino doon pumuputok, so Desiderio naman this time kinain kami,” lamented Revellers’ main man Jeff Viernes.
“I think lahat ng last possessions nila napasok ni Desiderio, kaya nanalo sila.”
But more than Desiderio and the Scratchers, the loss was largely due to Che’lu losing grip when Go for Gold stormed back – the Scratchers scored a whopping 35 points in the fourth alone.
Viernes could not provide a clear explanation for why they had lost, but he took all the blame for the defeat.
“Hindi ko din alam eh. Siguro hindi ko sila na-lead,” admitted Viernes, who had 23 points and six assists.
“As a leader sa team namin, baka hindi ko sila na-handle masyado nung fourth na kailangan composed kami hanggang matapos.
“So sa akin yon,” the 5-foot-8 gunslinger from Isabela asserted. “Kailangan hindi pwedeng ganun ulit sa Game Four, kailangan talaga mas composed kami pagdating sa dulo – yung mga ganung dikitan na laban.”
The Revellers’ backs are now against the wall, as they are down 1-2 in the best-of-five series, which means that a loss in Game Four on August 21, Tuesday, will lead to another wasted chance of winning the crown.
But Viernes remains undaunted.
“Sabi ko nga, dalawang game pa naman. Hindi pa huli ang lahat.
“Focus lang. Ganun pa rin. Mas kailangan lang namin pagdating sa dulo, kahit lamang kami, hindi kami pwedeng mag-relax,” said the leading conference MVP candidate.
