Cebuana Lhuiller defeats Big Chill, rises to top

MANILA, Philippines—Cebuana Lhuiller tied for the top spot in the standings after breaking away from Big Chill, 81-65, Monday in the 2011 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup.

The last conference’s runnerup, hoping to snare one of two outright semifinals incentives, forged its fifth victory and improved to the same record as Freego Jeans, 5-1.

Vic Manuel punched in a monster statline of 18 points, 14 boards and two steals while PBA draftee Pari Llagas scored 14 points and 16 rebounds.

The Gems pulled away in the third quarter as they flipped a 32-all deadlock at the half and stretched to double digits for the remainder of the game.

Guard Terrence Romeo, playing before his homecrowd at the FEU Gym in Manila, also added 14 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Big Chill, which is having a surprising run this conference, absorbed its second loss and fell behind Freego and Cebuana Lhuiller.

Charles Jenses topscored for his squad with 14 points while Jewel Ponferrada grabbed 11 rebounds before getting ejected in the fourth quarter.