Blackwater, Big Chill dispute PBA D-League finals slot
MANILA, Philippines — After surviving four do-or-die games, Blackwater Sports tries to dodge elimination anew when it tangles with Big Chill in a playoff for the last championship berth of the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup Tuesday at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Odds are even in the 3 p.m. match after the Elite and the Superchargers split their first two games of the best-of-three semifinal series.
The winner will advance against NLEX, which claimed the first title slot after sweeping Hog’s Breath Cafe in their own semifinal duel.
“We’ll get our poise back,” said coach Leo Isaac of Blackwater, which cruised to an 84-72 Game 1 victory last Tuesday before Big Chill rebounded strong two days later with a 95-84 win to level the series.
Before reaching the semifinals, the sixth-seeded Elite avoided elimination four straight times, the last two against twice-to-beat holder Jumbo Plastic in the quarterfinals.
Coach Robert Sison, though, thinks his No. 2 Superchargers are capable of avoiding another Blackwater upset.
“We want it more,” said Sison. “We’re hungrier and our confidence is intact.
It has been a long time since we last reached the finals. So I think that’s one thing motivating the boys.”
The Superchargers fell short of the title round in the last two conferences since bowing to the Road Warriors in the Foundation Cup finals of the 2011-2012 season.
Meanwhile, Jumbo Plastic bagged the 3-on-3 crown after tripping Blackwater, 11-10, Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The quartet of Karl Dehesa, Mark Romero, Harry Petilos and Jan Colina powered the Giants in the side event ruled by the Elite last conference.
