JEFF Viernes of Big Chill twists in mid-air to get a shot off Cebuana Lhuillier’s Marvin Hayes in yesterday’s game. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Big Chill found its rhythm in the second half and overcame Cebuana Lhuillier, 68-52, yesterday in a highly physical PBA D-League Foundation Cup clash at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.
There was no double-digit scorer for the Superchargers, but they were superb on both ends of the floor in the final two quarters in notching their third victory in four games while inflicting a first loss on the Gems.
Alex Mallari wound up as Big Chill’s top scorer with nine points, while the Superchargers had five players scoring eight points, including Keith Jensen, Jewel Ponferrada and Raffy Reyes, who was ejected early in the final period.
Junior Powerade, with Arvin Padilla on the firing end, rallied past the Cagayan Rising Suns, 67-61, to improve to 2-1.
The University of the Philippines guard poured 18 of his 19 points in the second half as the Tigers erased a 10-point halftime deficit to pin a third straight loss on the Rising Suns.
The Tigers turned the game around by outscoring the Rising Suns, 29-10, in the third period with Padilla and Mark Lopez combining for 20 points.
Reyes’ ejection seemed to have galvanized the Superchargers, who held the Gems scoreless in a six-minute stretch to pull away, 57-43, with 3:12 remaining.
Reyes was called for a second technical foul for a scuffle with Simon Atkins, but his teammates proved steady the rest of the way, leaving coach Luigi Trillo and the Gems frustrated over their first loss of the tournament.
Unhappy with the referees’ calls, Trillo entered the court late in the game and was called for a technical. He was ejected with less than a minute left for another technical for using profane language.
“The players responded well in the second half,” said Big Chill coach Robert Sison, whose wards are still unbeaten since he took over the day after the Superchargers lost to NLEX.
“It all started with our defense and our offense just followed.”
Starring Reyes and Jensen, the Superchargers used a 14-0 burst to overhaul a 26-32 deficit in the third period. With Jeff Viernes struggling and Reyes ejected, Mar Villahermosa steadied the ship for Big Chill, scoring seven points—all in the final period.
“The players are motivated because they have never beaten Cebuana,” said Sison.
The scores:
First Game
JR POWERADE 67—Padilla 19, Lopez 19, Silungan 10, Juruena 6, Escueta 5, Wong 3, Gingerich 2, Gamboa 2, Hipolito 1, Reyes 0, Cubo 0.
CAGAYAN 61—Agas 20, Arce 13, Melano 8, Lapuz 6, Malig-on 5, Tagarda 4, Castro 3, Bulangis 2, Macuha 0, Gamuenda 0, Aggarao 0, Montemayor 0.
Quarters: 15-20, 26-36, 55-46, 67-61
Second Game
BIG CHILL 68—Mallari 9, Jensen 8, Reyes 8, Ponferrada 8, Santos 8, Tan 8, Villahermosa 7, Montilla 6, Viernes 4, Cortes 2.
C. LHUILLIER 52—Llagas 13, Lozada 10, Hayes 9, Alvarez 7, Mangahas 4, Austria 3, Exciminiano 2, Manuel 2, Celada 1, Atkins 1, Apinan 0, Maconocido 0.
Quarters: 14-16, 26-30, 44-40, 68-52