PBA D-LEAGUE: Freego, Cebuana keep top slots

MANILA, Philippines—Freego Jeans and Cebuana Lhuillier got away with contrasting victories to keep a shared hold of the top spot in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup Thursday at the Adamson gym.

Rebounding from their first loss, the Jeans Makers made sure to stay in full control on the way to a 78-46 drubbing of Big Chill for their sixth victory in seven outings.

The Gems, meanwhile, took advantage of PC Gilmore’s end-game miscues to rally to a 76-67 triumph in the first game.

Vic Manuel buried 18 points while the backcourt duo of Terrence Romeo and Jai Reyes—who knocked in two key triples in the decisive rally—combined for 33 markers.

“Jai and Terrence are the smallest guys on the court but they have the biggest hearts,” said coach Luigi Trillo after the Gems also improved to 6-1. “They made my job easy in the last five minutes.”

Janus Lozada had 20 points and Jerick Cañada drilled 15 for the Jeans Makers, who outrebounded the Super Chargers, 60-32.

“I think this win assures us a spot in the top four,” said Freego coach Leo Austria. “But if we beat NLEX on Dec. 13 that would ensure us an outright spot in the semifinal.”

Only the top two teams at the end of the single-round eliminations will secure an automatic Final Four berth.

PC Gilmore looked headed to its first victory in four games, after moving ahead, 65-60, on a Robby Celiz drive with just three minutes to go.

But errors doomed the Wizards, who committed nine of their 20 turnovers in the fourth quarter.

The Super Chargers, meanwhile, dropped to their third loss in seven games.

The scores:
First Game
CEBUANA LHUILLIER 76—Manuel 18, Romeo 17, Reyes 16, Cruz 10, Hayes 5, Llagas 3, Celada 3, Jeffries 2, Exciminiano 2,Atkins 0, Mangahas 0.
PC GILMORE 67—Celiz 15, Vidal 11, Cagoco 9, Acosta 8, Mandani 7, Foronda 7, Agas 6, Sarangay 4, Sorela 0, Nuilan 0, Lim 0.
Quarters: 16-18, 32-20, 50-53, 76-67
Second Game
FREEGO JEANS 78—Lozada 20, Cañada 15, Austria 9, Manyara 9, Sumalinog 8, Cabrera 5, Brondial 5, Apinan 4, Camson 2, Lopez 1, Alvarez 0, Elinon 0, Rios 0.
BIG CHILL 46—Mallari 14, Reyes 8, Collado 6, Custodio 5, Jensen 4, Morillo 4, Dizon 3,Ponferada 2, Mangahas 0, Tan 0, Maconocido 0, Santos 0.
Quarters: 18-7, 40-22, 51-32, 78-46