PBA D-League Semis: Big Chill surprises NLEX

Cliff Hodge of NLEX gets fouled by Allan Santos of Big Chill. INQUIRER PHOTO/ August dela Cruz

MANILA, Philippines—Big Chill and Freego Jeans proved they weren’t mere lucky the first time.

The Superchargers—the squad that dealt NLEX its lone elimination loss—pulled off a repeat over the defending champion Road Warriors with a surprise 83-66 rout in Game 1 Tuesday of their PBA D-League Aspirants Cup semifinal series at the FilOil-Flying V Arena.

Similarly forging an upset, the Jeans Makers nipped Cebuana Lhuillier, 57-56, with Roider Cabrera knocking in a triple at the buzzer in the other semifinal thriller.

“We concentrated on the mental side,” said Big Chill coach Arsenio Dysangco. “We also tried to control NLEX’s running game and forced them into a half-court game. We were also glad that their shots weren’t falling.”

On Thursday, Big Chill and Freego Jeans go for a semifinal sweep in Game 2 of the best-of-three series where they have a shot at arranging an unlikely championship duel.

Cabrera knocked in the game winner—his lone basket in just three minutes of action—after Terrence Romeo towed the Gems to a 56-54 lead with back-to-back triples inside the last 54 seconds.

Lester Alvarez paced the Jeans Makers with 16 points, including two straight triples in the final two minutes.

“I wasn’t sure if it would go in,” said the 6-foot-4 Cabrera. “The play was designed for Lester, but the defense sagged on him.”

“It’s really a big win because we’re the underdogs,” said coach Leo Austria, who dealt one of the Gems’ two losses in the eliminations.

The scores:
First Game
FREEGO 57—Alvarez 16, Camson 11, Nuyles 10, Austria 9, Sumalinog 3, Cabrera 3, Manyara 2, Lopez 2, Apinan1, Lozada 0, Elinon 0, Brondial 0, Monteclaro 0.
C. LHUILLIER 56—Manuel 15, Romeo 13, Llagas 8, Alas 6, Reyes 5, Taha 3, Mangahas 2, Almazan 2, Exciminiano 2.
Quarters: 18-7, 31-22, 40-33, 57-56
Second Game
BIG CHILL 83—Collado 16, Mallari 15, Glorioso 12, Ponferrada 9, Tan 9, Reyes 6, Maconocido 5, Jensen 4, Custodio 3, Santos 2, Dizon 2.
NLEX 66—Garcia 19, Hodge 11, Abueva 10,Ellis 5, Lanete 5, Marcelo 5, Belencion 4, Sangalang 4, Monfort 3, Hermida 0, Dehesa 0, Co 0.
Quarters: 23-21, 47-32, 70-42, 83-66