Big Chill’s Jeckster Apinan takes it strong to the basket off Blackwater’s Pari Llagas. August dela Cruz
MANILA, Philippines — Big Chill sustained a strong start and ended Blackwater Sports’ incredible run with a 89-78 decision to claim the last finals berth in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup Tuesday at Filoil Flying V Arena.
With Janus Lozada and Reil Cervantes waxing hot, the Superchargers staged a second-quarter breakaway and kept the Elite at a distance the entire second half for a decisive win in the do-or-die Game 3.
“Overall it was a team effort offensively and defensively,” coach Robert Sison said after his Superchargers won the best-of-three semifinal series, 2-1.
“Our defense worked; Blackwater wasn’t able to set up.” Lozada fired 21 points, 15 coming from three-point range, while Cervantes also shone with 18 points and nine rebounds.
The Superchargers’ solid form will be tested anew by the top-seeded NLEX in the best-of-three championship series starting at 1 p.m. this Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
NLEX, which will head into the finals after a nine-day layoff, swept Hog’s Breath Cafe in their own semifinal duel to advance to the title round for the sixth straight time.
The Elite had hoped to become the lowest-ranked team at No. 6 to clinch a title berth after surviving elimination four straight times to gain the Final Four.
And the Elite looked unstoppable after taking Game 1, 84-72, but failed to wrap it up last Thursday as the Superchargers carved out a 95-84 triumph.
Jericho Cruz (21 points) and Allan Mangahas (16 points) delivered for the Elite, but the usually reliable Kevin Ferrer was hardly a factor, scoring only seven on a 1-of-8 shooting clip.
The scores
BIG CHILL 89—Lozada 21, Cervantes 18, Canlas 15, Brondial 9, Apinan 9, Maiquez 8, Baloria 3, Heruela 3, Villahermosa 3, Mirza 0, Santos 0.
BLACKWATER SPORTS 78—Cruz 21, Mangahas 16, Llagas 12, Bulawan 11, Ciriacruz 11, Ferrer 7, Manguera 0, Bagatsing 0, Pe 0.
Quarters: 20-18, 41-33, 66-56, 89-78