Montilla, Viernes explode as Cafe France fights off Big Chill

MANILA, Philippines—Finally gaining momentum in the tournament, Cafe France stunned Big Chill, 71-61, for its second straight win Monday in the 2011 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup.

The Bakers, who improved to 2-3 slate but who already notched its best record in the two conference of the amateur league, carved out off an eight-point hole, 36-44, and dominated in the payoff period.

Cafe France is fresh from a come-from-behind triumph versus Cobra, 78-73, last Thursday where the squad erased an 18-point deficit.

Colegio de Sta. Monica standout Mac Montilla and University of Manila’s ace Jeff Viernes pulled through with another sizzling performance for Cafe France.

Montilla scored 25 points and seven rebounds while Viernes added 21 points, as the one-two punch of the Bakers co-authored all of the squad’s 10 three pointers.

After erasing the deficit early in the third quarter, Montilla and Viernes teamed up in keeping the Bakers ahead the rest of the way and effectively neutralizing Jessie James Collado’s stunning performance for the Superchargers.

Collado, finishing with a game-best 30 points, knocked down all but three of his 10 attempts from downtown, including a triple that trimmed the lead to 67-61 with 1:30 left.

But that was the last that the Superchargers would score and they absorbed their first loss of the conference following a 3-0 start.