JECKSTER Apinan completed a three-point play with 34.1 seconds left as Big Chill slipped past Cebuana Lhuillier, 81-78, to grab the solo lead with its fourth straight win in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup yesterday at JCSGO Gym.
Apinan, who finished with 13 points and eight rebounds, scored from underneath while fetching a foul from June Dizon in the decisive play that shattered a 77-77 deadlock.
“I told the team that for us to be a strong team, we really need to know how to close out games,” said coach Robert Sison as his Superchargers streaked to the franchise’s best start.
NLEX only had a day of practice yet still rolled to a 93-60 rout of Arellano-Air21 at the start of its campaign, while Cafe France had a tougher time in forging an 80-73 triumph over winless Derulo Accelero.
Janus Lozada topscored for Big Chill with 14 points and Mar Villahermosa added 11, including a buffer free throw with 15 seconds left after Gems star Roi Sumang had trimmed the gap to 80-78 with a foul shot.
The Gems, who fell to 1-3 along with the Chiefs, had a chance to forge overtime but Ralf Olivarez missed his three-point try in the dying seconds.
The scores:
First Game
NLEX 93—Lanete 19, Ganuelas 16, Alas 12, Adeogun 9, Pascual J. 9. Hermida 8, Dela Rosa 5, Pascual R. 5, Koga 4, Pascual K. 4, Long 2, Dela Cruz 0, Amer 0.
ARELLANO-AIR21 60—Bangga 14, Hernandez 11, Jalalon 10, Arquero 7, Fran 6, Bartolo 4, Palma 2, Serjue 2, Mendoza 2, Ciriacruz 2, Tayongtong 0, Agovida 0, Cortes 0.
Quarters: 20-13, 37-27, 63-46, 93-60
Second Game
BIG CHILL 81—Lozada 14, Apinan 13, Villahermosa 11, Cervantes 9, Brondial 9, Maiquez 9, Baloria 7, Canlas 6, Mirza 3, Heruela 0, Santos 0.
CEBUANA LHUILLIER 78—Sumang 20, Leynes 11, Aguilar 9, Banal 8, Zamar 8, Dizon 8, Paredes 4, Javier 3, Martinez 3, Olivares 2, Alas 2, Flores 0.
Quarters: 19-18, 44-40, 61-60, 81-78
Third Game
CAFE FRANCE 80—Nimes 20, Knuttel 14, Ebondo 13, Montilla 7, Gallardo 6, Abundo 6, De Leon 4, Parala 4, Batino 3, Sedurifa 2, Sarangay 1, Celso 0, Mutombo 0.
DERULO ACCELERO 73—Jeffries 17, Corpuz 16, Soyud 15, Manuel 9, Asilum 5, Wong 5, Importante 3, Bautista 3, Dilay 0.
Quarters: 18-22, 42-45, 63-55, 80-73