MANILA, Philippines — Rey Suerte never ran out of luck all-game long, firing 27 points to tow Che’Lu Bar and Grill past Ironcon-University of Santo Tomas, 92-80, for joint fifth in its bracket in the PBA D-League at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao yesterday.
Suerte went on a 12-for-19 clip, helping the Revellers build 16-point leads in the third quarter and quash the Tigers’ subsequent uprising.
He also produced four rebounds, three steals, a block and an assist for Che’Lu Bar and Grill which caught up with Go for Gold-College of Saint Benilde at fifth with their similar 4-3 slates in the Aspirants’ Group.
“This is a must win for us. I told the players that if you still want to play in the playoffs, you have to work hard and go for the win,” said Revellers coach Stevenson Tiu.
Ironcon-UST slipped to joint second with St. Clare College-Virtual Reality at 5-2.
Earlier, SMDC-National U sustained its late surge and dragged Wangs Basketball with it to the exits, 102-71.
The ousted Bulldogs rolled to their third straight win after a 0-5 start and found company in the Couriers, who they sent packing in the Foundation Group.
Issa Gaye led the Bulldogs’ assault with 13 points and nine rebounds.