Jumbo nips Blackwater in OT; Big Chill up

Elliot Tan played hero twice over as the Jumbo Plastic Giants tripped last conference’s champion Blackwater Sports, 79-72, in overtime in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup yesterday at Ynares Sports Arena.

Tan knocked in a game-high 26 points, including a short jumper that forged overtime, 63-63, with time down to 1.5 seconds and another clutch bucket that kept the Giants ahead, 75-71, with 18.1 ticks left in the extra period.

“He pulled us through by hitting big shots in the end,” Giants coach Steve Tiu said of his Filipino-American guard.

The huge win boosted the Giants’ record to 8-2 as they stayed close behind solo leader Big Chill, which downed Wangs Basketball, 75-66, in the first game.

Reil Cervantes buried 11 of his 15 points in the second half as the Superchargers overcame a sluggish start to roll to their 10th victory in 11 games.

“It’s good that the players still had enough stamina,” said coach Robert Sison after his Superchargers picked up their fourth straight win in nine days.

Boracay Rum, meanwhile, coasted to an 83-66 victory over Zambales M-Builders to improve to 4-5.  Chris Banchero sparked the Waves’ strong start to finish with 18 points, while Jeff Viernes added 14.

Tan teamed up with Jan Colina and Harold Arboleda in scoring all of the Giants’ 16 points in the overtime period.

The Giants rallied from a 56-63 deficit in the last two minutes of regulation as Tan scored five in the Giants’ 7-0 windup that forced overtime.

A pair of Colina baskets sandwiched a Tan triple that put the Giants on top, 70-67, at the start of the extension, before the Elite countered with their own run to grab a 71-70 lead.

The Giants, though, held the Elite scoreless in the final minute.

The scores:

First Game

BIG CHILL 75—Cervantes 15, Baloria 13, Lozada 10, Apinan 9, Canlas 6, Brondial 6, Heruela 5, Miranda 4, Maiquez 4, Villahermosa 3, Mirza 0, Belleza 0, Santos 0.

WANGS BASKETBALL 66—Juico 20, Acosta 13, Vijandre 7, Castro 7, Franco 5, Saitanan 4, Galliguez 3, Banal 3, Ilad 2, Lopez 2, Sanchez 0.

Quarters: 19-15, 35-30, 55-53, 75-66

Second Game

JUMBO PLASTIC 79—Tan 26, Colina 14, Arboleda 13, Ballesteros 9, Lopez 4, Melegrito 4, Dehesa 3, Petilos 2, Alano 2, Magat 2, Antipuesto 0.

BLACKWATER SPORTS 72—A. Mangahas 21, Llagas 13, Ferrer 10, Bulawan 6, Ciriacruz 6, Manguera 4, Pe 4, Cruz 3, J. Mangahas 3, Austria 2, Bagatsing 0.

Quarters: 9-13, 28-30, 46-44, 63-63 (reg) 79-72 (OT)