Big Chill still hot; Cafe France rips Hog’s 5

BIG Chill turned back a pesky Zambales M-Builders, 82-71, to tighten its hold of  top spot in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup yesterday at Trinity University of Asia gym.

Reil Cervantes dropped a game-high 16 points, including key baskets late in the game that helped the Superchargers clinch their ninth win in 10 games.

The race for the No. 2 slot tightened up as Cafe France hacked out a surprise 81-58 rout of Hog’s Breath Cafe, which absorbed its second straight loss after a 7-0 start.

“I think the top two spots will be a close fight,” said Big Chill coach Robert Sison. “So we really have to win our remaining three games to have a strong shot.”

Mac Montilla paced a balanced charge with 12 points as the Bakers pulled away early with a 17-8 start.  The win propped up the Bakers to a share of third with Cagayan Valley at 7-3.

The Builders, who fell to 2-7, rallied within five, 67-72, behind Mike Tolomia with three minutes left before Cervantes and Brian Heruela combined to quell the rally.

The scores:
First Game
BIG CHILL 82—Cervantes 16, Baloria 11, Brondial 10, Heruela 7, Mirza 7, Villahermosa 7, Maiquez 6, Lozada 6, Apinan 5, Canlas 5, Belleza 2, Santos 0.
ZAMBALES M-BUILDERS 71—Vidal 15, Gomez 11, Ignacio 8, Tolomia 8, D. Semerad 6, Cruz 6, A. Semerad 6, Pogoy 5, Doligon 4, Wong 2.
Quarters: 15-13, 34-26, 61-56, 82-71
Second Game
CAFE FRANCE 81—Montilla 12, Ebondo 10, Batino 10, Sedurifa 9, Cortes 9, Abundo 9, Mutombo 6, Jamon 6, Nimes 6, Gallardo 4, De Leon 0, Sarangay 0.
HOG’S BREATH CAFE 58—Ruaya 12, Rios 12, Gabawan 10, Racal 9, Belorio 5, Paniamogan 3, Austria 2, Sanga 2, Bartolo 2, Bercede 1, Robles 0, Terso 0.
Quarters: 17-8, 35-24, 62-44, 81-58

Big Chill     9     1
Hog’s      7     2
Cagayan      7     3
Cafe France     7     3
Jumbo P.     6     2
NLEX     4     1
Blackwater     4     2
Wangs     3     5
Bora Rum     3     5
Cebuana      2     4
M-Builders     2     7
AU-Air21     1     7
Derulo      1     8
NU-BDO     0     6

GAMES TODAY
(Blue Eagle Gym)
12 nn—Wangs  vs Arellano-Air21
2 p.m.—Derulo
Accelero vs Jumbo