PBA D-League: Off a long holiday break, Big Chill clinches twice to beat

The Big Chill Superchargers endured a long layoff, but still managed to defeat the Blackwater Elite, 58-55, Thursday to clinch a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals of the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at the San Juan Gym.

 

The Superchargers closed out the eliminations with a 7-3 record to formalize their entry in the quarterfinals with the incentive in the bag.

 

It was Big Chill's first game since December 9 when it defeated the PC Gilmore Wizards, 96-83, before the Christmas break.

 

"Our timing was off but the good thing was we made crucial baskets and stops in the last few seconds,” said Big Chill coach Arsenio Dysangco.

 

Jessie Collado converted a running one-hander with 3:01 to play in the game, 57-55, and the rest of Big Chill then kept that slim lead until the end of the game.

 

Jopher Custodio split his free throws with 13.1 seconds left giving Blackwater a glimmer of hope to force overtime but Rocky Acidre missed an uncontested three-pointer as time expired.

 

The Elite grabbed a 30-27 lead in the third period but that was short-lived as Big Chill pounced it on and turned it into a 48-40 edge late in the stanza.

 

Clark Bautista buried a three-pointer with 3:50 left in the game tying the contest at 55 but that was the final time Blackwater scored.

 

Blackwater slipped to 4-5, and will take on the RnW Pacific Pipes Steelmasters in their final chance for a quarterfinal berth on Tuesday, January 17. — AMD/JVP, GMA News

 

 

Scores:

 

Big Chill 58—Ponferrada 13, Glorioso 9, Tan 8, Maconocido 6, Custodio 6, Collado 5, Jensen 4, Mallari 4, Santos 3, Dizon 0.

 

Blackwater 55—Fortuna 13, Bringas 10, Bautista 9, Pascual 6, Acidre 5, I. Ciriacruz 5, Camus 3, Tan 2, Marata 2, G. Ciriacruz 0, Doligon 0.

 

Quarter scores: 20-14, 27-30, 48-43, 58-55.