Couriers repel Altas, move up to joint second

Games on Monday (Pasig City Sports Center) 11 a.m. – AMA vs Akari-AdU 1 p.m. – CEU vs JRU

Wangs Basketball-Letran outsteadied University of Perpetual Help down the stretch and hacked out an 88-83 victory to gain a share of second in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig yesterday.

Bonbon Batiller scored on a layup while Bong Quinto canned in two pressure-packed charities in the final 35 seconds as the Couriers held off the Altas and improved to 4-2 in a tie with Marinerong Pilipino and AkariAdamson.

“Bonbon (Batiller) was willing to step up when our starters were off. Luckily the result went well for us,” said Couriers coach Jeff Napa, whose wards scored a follow-up to their 73-55 rout of the Jose Rizal U Bombers last Monday.

Batiller finished with eight points while Rey Publico topscored for Wangs with 17 markers and Quinto backed him up with 14 points.

JP Calvo added 12 points while Jerrick Balanza and Christian Fajarito scored 10 markers apiece for the Couriers, who held a six-point lead, 72-66, at the onset of the fourth before warding off the pesky Altas, who pulled to within one thrice, the last at 83-84 on a Prince Eze jumper with 47 seconds left in the contest.

Go for Gold overcame a 12-point third quarter deficit then sustained its charge to the finish to beat Batangas-Emilio Aguinaldo College, 106-95, in the other game.

Jerwin Gaco and Yankie Haruna took charge for the Scratchers late in the third then Justin Gutang and Jjay Alejandro stepped up in the clutch to turn back the Generals and hike Go for Gold’s record to 4-3 in a tie with Zark’s Burgers-Lyceum.