PBA D-League Aspirants Cup: Big Chill stuns NLEX, grabs 1-0 lead

MANILA, Philippines—Big Chill leaned on a strong second quarter run and never looked back to stun heavyweight NLEX, 83-66, Tuesday and grab a 1-0 headstart in their best-of-three semifinals series of the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at the San Juan Arena.

The Superchargers, who also dealt the Road Warriors’ lone loss in the elimination round, pulled away after outscoring NLEX, 24-11 in the pivotal second period.

The Road Warriors despite their fancied core headed by UAAP and NCAA standouts, never recovered in the second half as the Superchargers stood their ground all throughout.

“The boys deserved this win, they really played hard. We just concentrated on playing our game and try to control NLEX’ running game and force them into a halfcourt team,” said Big Chill head coach Arsenio Dysangco.

Big Chill bigs Jessie Collado and Jewel Ponferrada had big games to anchor the Superchargers’ inside attack and contain the shaded area.

Collado ended up with 16 points and six rebounds while Ponferrada finished just a point shy of a double-double with nine points and 15 rebounds.

Lanky forward Alex Mallari added 15 points, nine of which coming from deep.

Big Chill led by as much as 28, 70-42 on a free throw by Elliot Tan.

RR Garcia shot 16 of his game-high 19 points in the second half while Cliff Hodge had a quiet 11-point game.

San Sebastian banger Calvin Abueva had 10 points and eight rebounds before getting sent out of the court after being slapped by a flagrant penalty 2 for hitting Collada with an elbow at the 2:03 mark of the third period.

The Road Warriors, on the verge of unlikely elimination, try to forge a do-or-die Game 3 on Thursday.