Cagayan, Big Chill boost playoff bid

RAYMUND Aguilar of Cebuana Lhuillier (left) tries to barrel his way past the defense of Big Chill’s Jeckster Apinan. PBA IMAGE/NUKI SABIO

Cagayan Valley and Big Chill registered emphatic victories to enhance their playoff aspirations in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at JCSGO Gym in Quezon City.

The Rising Suns leaned on explosive performances from Andrian Celada and Ping Exciminiano to repulse the Boracay Rum Waves, 101-83, while the Superchargers cruised to a 93-73 triumph over a lethargic Cebuana Lhuillier squad.

Celada fired 25 points, while Ping Exciminiano contributed 20 for the Rising Suns, who scored their second straight win and their fifth in nine outings.

With the victories, the Rising Suns forged a three-team tie for the fifth to seventh spots with Café France and Boracay Rum, while the Superchargers climbed to eighth spot in a tie with their victims at 5-5.

The top two teams at the end of the elimination round will gain outright spots to the semifinals, while the third to sixth seeds will figure in the quarterfinals with the No. 3 and No. 4 teams owning a twice-to-beat edge.

“We have a good chance of making the quarterfinals now, but our two remaining games are still must-win so there’s no room to relax,” said Cagayan Valley assistant coach Toto Dojillo.

Making 12 of their 17 shots, the Rising Suns raced to a 27-9 advantage with Celada and Eluid Poligrates finding their rhythm early.

Big Chill needed huge games from Janus Lozada and Terrence Romeo to keep its flickering playoff hopes alive. Lozada finished with 26 points, while Romeo had 20 for the Superchargers, who pulled away early on their way to bouncing back from a heartbreaking overtime loss to Jumbo Plastic.

The scores:

First Game

CAGAYAN VALLEY 101—Celada 25, Exciminiano 22, Lao 12, Canta 11, Mercader 9, Poligrates 7, Bringas 7, Webb 4, Cruz 2, Melano 2, Jamito 0, Matute 0.

BORACAY RUM 83—Viernes 22, Taha 10, Sabellina 9, Bandaying 8, Eguilos 8, Fernandez 7, Ilagan 6, Pasculado 3, Arellano 3, Siruma 2, Rosopa 2, Tagarda 0.

Quarters: 27-15, 53-30, 73-57, 101-83

Second Game

BIG CHILL 93—Lozada 26, Romeo 22, Montilla 14, Bringas 10, Bonifacio 4, Holstein 4, Apinan 4, Villahermosa 3, Santos 2, Heruela 0, Dumapig 0.

CEBUANA LHUILLIER 73—Dizon 15, Padilla 10, Bautista 9, Elinon 8, Aguilar 7, Martinez 6, Zamar 6, Lopez 6, Sarangay 3, Montecastro 2, Buensuceso 1, Leynes 0.

Quarters: 25-14, 52-26, 72-56, 93-73