By Jerome Lagunzad
Gamboa Coffee Mix rallied past Perpetual Help yesterday, 78-73, to get its 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup title campaign back on track at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao, Quezon City.
Mainstay Aris Dionisio produced his finest showing so far with 21 points, 11 of them coming in the final canto, on top of eight rebounds, six blocks and four steals while Mali center Mohammed Pare added 16 points and 10 rebounds to help the Coffee Lovers complete their fightback over the stunned Altas.
However, it was its collective desire to play lockdown defense down the stretch that spelled the big difference for Gamboa Coffee Mix, which limited Perpetual Help to just six points in the last four minutes of play.
The hard-earned victory enabled the Coffee Lovers to bounce back from a 92-85 loss to league-leading Akari-Adamson Falcons last Feb. 15 and move up to fifth spot with a 3-2 mark.