PBA-DL: Superchargers shock reigning champions NLEX Road Warriors

(updated 5:59pm) The Big Chill Superchargers shocked the defending champions NLEX Road Warriors, 86-77, in the capper of a triple-header on opening day of the 2013 PBA-DL Foundation Cup, Tuesday at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan. Both teams traded runs throughout the game, but ultimately it was Big Chill's fourth quarter hustle which gave them the momentum to prevail in overtime. At the beginning of the extra period, a floater by Kirk Long gave NLEX the lead at the onset. But Big Chill's pesky ball pressure harassed the Road Warriors, who committed consecutive errors with under two minutes to play. In the possessions preceding those turnovers, an Alex Nuyles free throw and a drive by Arvie Bringas gave Big Chill a 76-75 edge. With under a minute to play, RR Garcia broke loose of his man for an uncontested lay-up. Big Chill raised the stakes on the other end, as Bringas completed a four-point play, restoring an 80-77 lead for the Superchargers with 27.7 seconds on the clock. Garcia attempted to match his FEU Tamaraws teammate from downtown, but missed. The rebound went long and Big Chill pushed the ball upcourt, as Nuyles assisted Bringas for an unmolested layup, 82-77, with 17 ticks remaining. NLEX would turn the ball over again on the inbounds and resorted to fouling Chris Dumapig with 15 seconds to play. The forward made the second try. In frustration, NLEX threw the ball away to the Superchargers to run out the clock. Nico Salva fouled Bringas, who split to complete the final score. Bringas scored 11 points in overtime en route to 19 points and five rebounds. Alex Nuyles however led his side with 22 markers on 9-of-15 shooting from the floor, while Mac Montilla and Mar Villahermosa added eight points apiece. Villahermosa also tallied four assists. "Decision na ng player 'yun, hindi mo na magagawan ng play yan eh," said Big Chill head coach Robert Sison of Bringas' tremendous four-point play. Sison also gushed about his team's statement victory, praising all his players for their efforts. "I love this team because this is a team that never gives up," he said. "I think we just got NLEX at the right time. It's the first game and baka celebration mode pa sila at sobrang naghanda kami." "I don't want to downplay this win [though]; I'm proud of my players because they gave it their best and never gave up," he said. "Kahit wala si [Greg] Slaughter at si [Ian] Sangalang, magaling silang lahat hanggang sa dulo, lahat yan puwede mong gamitin." Coach Sison also dismissed earlier reports that the Superchargers were releasing Terrence Romeo to play for the Fruitas Shakers which hoped to use the core of the UAAP's FEU Tamaraws for their squad. "Terrence [Romeo] still has a live contract with us. Hindi lang namin ni-line-up kasi the issue is still being discussed," he clarified. Jake Pascual was aggressive early in the first quarter, as the big man scored five to give the Road Warriors a 7-5 advantage. But the Superchargers began to force stops and leak out in transition. Janus Lozada drained two triples and combined with Mac Montilla for 11 points in a 16-8 run, ending the first quarter with a 20-15 advantage. Big Chill carried over their hot shooting to the second quarter, as Mar Villahermosa buried a triple on their first possession. Backed by six points from Alex Nuyles, the Superchargers extended the lead to double-digits, as Allan Santos cut to the rim, 34-24. NLEX struggled as Big Chill gave them limited room to operate on drive and kick sets. Nico Salva converted a hook shot for the Road Warriors, ending a four-minute dry spell with under three minutes to play. However, they were unable to make progress on the defensive end, EJ Camson though did save a Salva miss before time expired, as NLEX trailed 42-30 after the second period. The Road Warriors held a 24-14 rebounding edge at halftime, including a 13-4 margin on the offensive glass. But the extra possessions did not always result in points, as the Road Warriors boasted of just an 8-2 difference in second-chance points. NLEX made 14-of-39 attempts from the floor (35.9 percent), while the Superchargers posted an efficient 16-of-28 clip (57.1 percent). Camson steered NLEX back on track in the third quarter, as he scored six points in a 14-4 streak. Garvo Lanete capped it with back-to-back buckets to knot the game at 46-all. However, the Road Warriors couldn't capitalize on that momentum. Big Chill forced the issue in the lane, as Jelo Montecastro, Arvie Bringas and Nuyles earned themselves trips to the line in a 7-0 run with two minutes to play. After fumbling several easy shots, NLEX rallied back in the final minute. A Ronald Pascual tip-in with 10 seconds to play ended an 8-0 Road Warriors rally, and gave them a 54-53 lead after three quarters. Nuyles returned to attack mode the fourth quarter, scoring either on drives or step-back jumpers to key in an 8-1 rally for the Superchargers. NLEX responded by pushing the tempo offensively, as a couple more buckets by Salva knotted the game anew, 61-61, with five minutes to play. RR Garcia drained consecutive triples to sandwich two from Mark Canlas, and Kirk Long and Jake Pascual then put the finishing touches on a 10-2 run. With three minutes to go, NLEX was in the driver's seat, 71-63. Bringas and Garcia exchanged charities, and the Superchargers continued to test NLEX's defense. With a minute to play, Montilla completed a transition and-one, 73-68. Montilla nearly gave the points away when he unintentionally fouled Long as the latter brought the ball upcourt, but the former Ateneo Blue Eagle missed both charities. Big Chill then inbounded the ball to a curling Nuyles, who buried the trey to make it a two-point game, 73-71. Big Chill forced a turnover off the NLEX inbounds, giving them a chance to tie. Montilla was fouled anew on the drive, but made only the second try, leaving the Road Warriors with 36 seconds on the clock. The Road Warriors inbounded the ball, but the Superchargers were able to strip Salva, forcing yet another steal. Big Chill raced down the other way, but Villahermosa missed a baseline jumper. They got the rebound but Nuyles missed his lay-up. Luckily though, Montilla was there to attempt another drive. The guard was fouled with 0.3 seconds left but again made only one of two, sending the game into overtime. Big Chill's pressure defense bullied NLEX into 20 turnovers against 10 of their own, producing a 22-12 margin in turnover points. NLEX though won the rebounding battle, 58-36, including 26-11 on offensive rebounds. However, Big Chill shot better from the floor, making 30-of-66 shots (45.5 percent) against the Road Warriors' 34-of-86 mark (39.5 percent). The lead could've been much bigger for Big Chill, as the Superchargers registered just a 20-of-35 clip from the free throw line (57.1 percent). On the other hand, NLEX attempted only 12 free throws throughout the game and made five (41.7 percent). EJ Camson led his team with a double-double, posting 14 points and 17 rebounds. Nico Salva also added 14 points. RR Garcia notched 12 markers. - AMD, GMA News The scores: BIG CHILL 86: Nuyles 22, Bringas 19, Montilla 8, Villahermosa 8, Santos 6, Lozada 6, Montecastro 5, Heruela 4, Dumapig 4, Holstein 2, Canlas 2 NLEX 77: Salva 14, Camson 14, Garcia 12, J Pascual 9, Long 8, Lanete 6, Alas 5, R Pascual 4, Villarias 3, Ganuelas 2, Amer 0, Hermida 0 Quarter-scoring: 20-15, 42-32, 53-54, 73-73, 86-77