BIG CHILL’S Rodney Brondial (right) grasps the jersey of Blackwater’s Gio Ciriacruz in a scramble for the loose ball. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Big Chill got a huge lift from Juneric Baloria as the Superchargers stunned defending champion Blackwater Sports, 90-83, to stretch its unbeaten run to three in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup yesterday at Ynares Sports Arena.
Baloria pumped in a game-high 22 points as the Superchargers pinned a first loss on the Elite in three games. Janus Lozada added 15 points, including three straight triples in a key run that gave Big Chill its biggest lead, 86-72, in the last three minutes.
“I thought we did what we had to do,” said Big Chill coach Robert Sison. “They (Elite) are a solid team and their confidence is high coming off a championship. For us to win, we really had to work hard, outplay them and play good defense.”
In the second game, newcomer Wangs Basketball scored a breakthrough win over Cebuana Lhuillier, 86-72, to tie its victim at 1-2.
The Couriers virtually dominated the second half with Ervic Vijandre (20 points) and Macky Acosta (16 points) leading the charge.
The Superchargers pulled away in the second period and erected a double-digit advantage at the break, 49-38, as the Elite struggled on the field with a 35 percent shooting clip.
“The key was we were able to defend well against their zone defense,” said Sison.
Sison also praised Baloria, the Perpetual Help guard who emerged as this NCAA season’s rookie sensation.
“What can I say? He played awesome,” said Sison. “I also thought the whole team played solid. We were focused the whole game.”
The Elite moved within a point, 72-73, early in the fourth period, before a six-minute scoring drought allowed the Superchargers to regain control.
Kevin Ferrer and Allan Mangahas shot 17 each to pace the Elite.
The scores:
First Game
BIG CHILL 90—Baloria 22, Lozada 15, Cervantes 14, Mirza 11, Maiquez 7, Villahermosa 6, Brondial 4, Apinan 4, Heruela 3, Canlas 2, Miranda 2, Santos 0.
BLACKWATER SPORTS 83—Ferrer 17, Mangahas A. 17, Cruz 15, Ciriacruz 13, Llagas 6, Bagatsing 5, Pe 3, Vigil 2, Mangahas J. 2, Austria 2, Avillanoza 1, Manguera 0, Suguitan 0.
Quarters: 21-23, 49-38, 69-67, 90-83
Second Game
WANGS 86—Vijandre 20, Acosta 16, Juico 15, Gomez 10, Saitanan 10, Ilad 4, Banal 4, Castro 4, Galliguez 3, Namocatcat 0, Alvarado 0, Sanchez 0.
CEBUANA LHUILLIER 72—Zamar 13, Olivarez 11, Martinez 10, Dizon 8, Aguilar 7, Paredes 6, Banal 6, Sumang 5, Javier 4, Casajeros 2, Noble 0, Leynes 0.
Quarters: 23-20, 36-32, 64-48, 86-72