Big Chill freezes Erase to halt 2-game skid

Jessie Collado vs Femi Babayemi and Marlon Gomez. PBA D-LEAGUE/Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines – Big Chill pulled away early en route to an 88-68 beatdown of Erase Xfoliant Tuesday in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at the Emilio Aguinaldo College gym.

The Superchargers connected on seven long-distance shots to break away from a 22-tie and lead by double digits, a huge lead they would not relinquish.

Big Chill head coach Robert Sison though, downplayed his team’s offensive outburst and instead praised its defense.

“Defense. It was all about defense. We went back to basics on defense,” said Sison, whose team stopped a two-game setback.

“We want to keep in step with NLEX, we just want to be assured of the number two spot,” he added.

Big Chill claimed solo second place at 5-2, leading by just a win over Blackwater and Cafe France. NLEX continues to top the standings at 8-1.

Terrence Romeo shot 21 points, 14 in the pivotal second quarter, in just 22 minutes.

Mar Villahermosa added 19 points, including seven unanswered points to open up the final frame that stretched his team’s lead to 25, 75-50, with 7:49 left.

Gelo Montecastro made the most out of his trip to the line that put Big Chill up by 30, 80-50.

Nate Matute paced the Erasers, who are on the verge of missing the quarterfinals at 2-5, with 19 points.

The Superchargers outscored the Erasers, 33-15, in the second period to turn a three-point deficit to a 48-33 lead.