Romeo-less Big Chill blows lead, beats Café France

FEU’s top gun Terrence Romeo (left) gets fouled by UP’s Mike Silungan on the way to the basket. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Big Chill squandered a huge lead before holding off Café France, 76-71, Tuesday in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at the Arena in San Juan city.

Ryan Buenafe and Mar Villahermosa scored 14 points each for the Superchargers, who missed the services of Terrence Romeo due to a hairline fracture in his right hand.

“I think the players really wanted to get back on the winning track. Marami nang naghahabulan sa baba so we’re really pressured to win this game,” said Big Chill head coach Robert Sison, whose team stopped its two-game slump.

Big Chill looked sharp and had little trouble sans Romeo in the early goings of the game, as it led by as many as 21, 47-26, with less than a minute left in the first half.

But with its season on the line, the Bakers battled back and came to within four, 63-67, after Roger Pogoy went coast-to-coast with still over five minutes left.

Pogoy scored all of his 10 points in the fourth period but it wasn’t enough as the Superchargers kept the Bakers at bay down the stretch.

Arvie Bringas completed a three-point play, 70-63, midway through the final frame that gave Big Chill the separation it needed to cool off Café France’s run.

“I’m happy all the players responded well in Terrence’s absence,” added Sison.

Big Chill once sat in second place but lost its position after a two-game setback dealt by Cagayan and Informatics. The Superchargers now have to work their way up through the quarterfinals.