Big Chill clinched the outright semifinals berth after drubbing RnW Pacific Pipes, 78-67, Thursday in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at Treston Gym in Taguig.
The Superchargers, though tied with Cebuana Lhuillier, got the golden advantage of skipping the quarterfinals by the strength of win-over-the-other rule.
“Our short-term goal is to make it to the semis, and our ultimate goal is to win the championship,” said head coach Robert Sison.
A complete team effort buoyed the Superchargers, as five players diffused at least 10 points with explosive forward Keith Jensen leading with 14.
“It’s a formidable team, I think I can match up with any team,” added Sison. “But I’m not satisfied with the way we played today.”
But Big Chill had a hard time dispatching the pesky Steelmasters, managing to maintain the gap but failing to pull away.
A 13-to-nothing roll by Pacific Pipes early in the third and another run in the fourth quarter sliced off the advantage, but was quickly doused by the superb slashing of the Superchargers.
Jeric Teng finished with 16 points and five rebounds while big man Raymond Aguilar added 10 points.
Pacific Pipes, though, is already assured of a spot in the playoffs and is set to face Blackwater, which has a twice-to-beat edge.