Timothy Habelito made a key assist in the closing seconds and Wang’s Basketball got away with an 88-86 victory over Gamboa Coffee Mix on Tuesday in the Philippine Basketball Association Developmental League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City.
Habelito found John Ambulodto open at the right baseline, setting up the small forward for the game winner just before the final buzzer sounded.
“Breaks of the game,” was how Wang’s Basketball Coach Pablo Lucas described their thrilling victory.
“We showed some character out there. The players did not give up even when things were not working in our favor. We stayed focused,” Lucas said.
Robert Herndon tallied 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting to show the way for the Couriers, who snapped a two-game skid and improved to a 2-2 (win-loss) record.
Michael Juico scored 22 points, Ryan Arambulo added 10, while Habelito pulled down 14 rebounds as the Couriers beat the Coffee Lovers off the boards, 51-45.
Down 84-85, Gamboa Coffee Mix had a chance to regain the lead but playing-coach Leo Avenido and Mike Parala missed four straight free throws.
Avenido led all scorers with 38 points. Ken Acibad scored 15 and Parala chipped in 11 for Gamboa Coffee Mix (1-3), which fell to its third straight loss.
Cignal, meanwhile, dominated Racal Motors, 93-75, for its fifth win in seven games.
The Hawkeyes got things going early, racing to a 42-21 advantage early in the second quarter and coasted the rest of the way.
Davon Potts, who played his final game in the league, tallied 15 points with three assists and two rebounds. Perkins added 14 points and Pamboy Raymundo finished with a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists.
Potts, who is rejoining the San Beda Red Lions in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, is set to apply for the Annual Draft.
Rion Ayonayon underscored his team’s sub-par performance as he was the lone Racal (2-1) player to score in double figure with 26 points.