Reil Cervantes of Blackwater (dark) vs Jeckster Apinan of Big Chill (light). PBA D-LEAGUE IMAGE by Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines — Blackwater Sports built on its hot start to rip Big Chill, 93-75, in the 2014 PBA D-League Foundation Cup Monday at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao.
The Elite raced to a commanding lead early and never looked back as they finally barged into the win column after suffering two straight losses in their bid for a back-to-back crown.
“The players loosened up and are now starting to enjoy the game. In our first two games they were still uptight and that’s the difference,” said Blackwater coach Leo Isaac.
The game was momentarily stopped late in the second quarter after the whole Big Chill team left the court in a partial walkout attempt before returning shortly after being called for two technical fouls for delay of game.
“I could not take the officiating,” said Big Chill head coach Robert Sison, who initiated his team’s walkout. “This league is getting wilder and wilder. It’s not in my nature to do that. I’m not trying to be Yeng Guiao.”
“I knew they will return and it was just fake,” said Isaac of Big Chill’s walkout attempt. “I think he (Sison) is just looking to get something out of his players.”
But not even the lull could break the Elite’s momentum nor slow them down.
The Superchargers managed to pull to within 12, 41-53, in the third quarter after trailing by as much as 25 but it didn’t take long before the Elite got their lead back to 20.
Blackwater had seven players with at least eight points. Reil Cervantes continues to show he’s ready for another PBA stint with 15 points and nine rebounds in 21 minutes of action.
Big Chill absorbed its first loss, leaving NLEX as the only unbeaten team with a 3-0 mark.
Rodney Brondial, Gene Belleza and Jeckster Apinan had 15 points each for the Superchargers.
Blackwater clicked on both ends of the floor, forcing 22 turnovers and working the ball well with 22 assists and only 11 turnovers.
Don Trollano, Kevin Ferrer and Jericho Cruz each tallied 12 points for the Elite. Ferrer also proved his worth at the defensive end in hounding Big Chill swingman Andrian Celada.
Celada scored measly two points on just three field goal attempts and was slapped with a flagrant foul penalty 1 for hitting Cruz late in the final four minutes of the game.
The two were also called for a double foul and kept on jawing at each other in the fourth quarter before Celada lost his cool.
Sison also said Big Chill is ready to face the consequences of his team’s actions.
“I’ll be fine whatever the commissioner (Chito Salud) will say,” said Sison.
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