Informatics melts Big Chill; Boracay up

Informatics bucked a late-game meltdown to upset Big Chill, 94-87, and  end their winless stint in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup yesterday at JCSGO Gym.

Moncrief Rogado pumped in 16 points, missing only once in 10 attempts from the field, to lead the eliminated Icons to their first triumph in nine games.

The upset put in jeopardy Big Chill’s chances to nail the last outright semifinal berth—the incentive given to the top two teams at the end of the eliminations—as the Superchargers dropped to fourth with a 5-4 record.

Earlier, Roider Cabrera drilled the decisive baskets as Boracay Rum survived a Café France rally in the last 90 seconds for a 62-58 victory.

The win kept the Waves in the running for a quarterfinal berth by tying their victim at 4-5.

Rogado nailed four key free throws to keep the Icons afloat in the final minute after the Superchargers trimmed a huge 21-point gap, 54-33, to just seven, 89-82.

“There was no pressure, we just wanted to prove that we belong here,” said coach Jonathan Reyes after his Icons downed a Big Chill side bannered by UAAP stars Terrence Romeo, Arvie Bringas and Alex Nuyles.

Kojak Melegrito fired 16 points and Mark Benitez added 15 for the Icons, who shot nearly 60 percent from the field in the first half.

Cabrera unloaded nine of his 15 points in the final quarter, the last two on buffer free throws with 7.2 seconds left after the Bakers came within a basket, 60-58, in the closing seconds.

The scores:

First Game

BORACAY RUM 62—Cabrera 15, Arellano 10, Eguilos 8, Siruma 7, Viernes 6, Bandaying 6, Ilagan 4, Santos 2, Acibar 2, Taha 2, Monteclaro 0, Sabellina 0.

CAFÉ FRANCE 58—Pogoy 17, Nimes 11, Parala 10, Magbitang 5, Padilla 4, Knuttel 4, Batino 3, Mendoza 2, Lopez 2, Alas 0, Antipuesto 0.

Quarters: 18-17, 33-31, 49-46, 62-58

Second Game

INFORMATICS 94—Rogado 26, Melegrito 16, Benitez 15, Bautista 13, Ablaza 9, Acuna 6, Rublico 3, Cabonce 2, Del Rosario 2, Montuano 2, Sanghera 0, Carlos 0, Hayes 0.

BIG CHILL 87—Nuyles 23, Montilla 18, Bringas 9, Brondial 8. Montecastro 8, Cortes 7, Collado 7, Lozada 3, Canlas 2, Romeo 1, Villahermosa 1, Semira 0, Santos 0.

Quarters: 28-18, 54-37, 73-58, 94-87