JUSTIN Chua hit a huge three as Blackwater Sports finally seized control and the defending champion Elite went on to nip Boracay Rum, 87-85, yesterday in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at JCSGO Gym in Quezon City.
Chua’s triple gave the debuting Elite a four-point lead with 48.3 seconds left and Mark Belo finally doomed the Waves by converting only two of three free throws with Blackwater up at 86-83.
Robby Celiz finalized the score with a free throw as Boracay took a first loss in two games.
Earlier, frontliners Jan Colina and Jason Ballesteros came up big as Jumbo Plastic withstood a late challenge from Cafe France for a 74-70 victory.
Colina and Ballesteros, who played for the Meralco Bolts in the PBA, imposed themselves in the paint in the final two minutes to help the Giants secure a second straight win for a share of the lead with idle Cagayan Valley.
Cafe France fell to 1-2.
Janus Lozada had 21 points and Kazim Mirza added 15 as Big Chill nipped NU-Banco de Oro, 92-91, in the other game.
The Bulldogs celebrated prematurely after Paolo Javelona sank his freethrows for a 91-87 lead, 11.6 seconds left.
Lozada drilled a three on the next sequence and Mirza intercepted Gelo Alolino’s miscalculated inbound pass for the easy game-winner.
The 6-foot-5 Chua, picked 10th overall by San Mig Coffee in Sunday’s PBA Rookie Draft, led the Elite with 15 points.
“He’s still on cloud nine and he delivered,” said Blackwater coach Leo Isaac of Chua.
The scores:
First game
JUMBO PLASTIC 74—Colina 14, Tan 14, Ballesteros 13, Petilos 10, Melegrito 7, Romero 5, Chiu 5, Custodio 2, Dehesa 2, Magat 2.
CAFE FRANCE 70—Poligrates 19, Parala 12, Knuttel 10, Nimes 10, Ebondo 9, Gallardo 5, Opiso 3, Sarangay 2, Sedurifa 0, Mutombo 0, De Leon 0, Abundo 0.
Quarters: 20-5; 44-30; 58-45; 74-70
Second game
BLACKWATER 87—Chua 15, Cruz 14, Ferrer 14, Llagas 11, Celiz 10, Austria 9, Ciriacruz 6, Mangahas 5, Pe 3, Avillanoza 0, Manguera 0, Reyes 0, Bagatsing 0, Vigil 0.
BORACAY RUM 85—Acibar 16, Belo 14, Banchero 14, Sabellina 10, Cabrera 8, Viernes 5, Rosopa 5, Taha 5, Arellano 0, Tagarda 0, Siruma 0.
Quarters: 19-18; 35-40; 59-64; 87-85
Third Game
BIG CHILL 92—Lozada 21, Mirza 15, Brondial 12, Maiquez 12, Cervantes 11, Canlas 7, Heruela 6, Santos 4, Belleza 2, Miranza 2.
NU-BDO 91—Parks 17, Javillonar 17, Rono 15, Javelona 14, Villamor 10, Khobuntin 8, Alolino 6, Neypes 4, Labing isa 0, De Guzman 0.
Quarters: 26-22; 42-44; 64-68; 92-91