PBA-DL: Big Chill stuns Cebuana Lhuillier to force rubber match for semifinal berth

Janus Lozada had 22 points, Brian Heruela added 19, and Big Chill defeated Cebuana Lhuillier, 72-64, on Thursday to stay alive in the quarterfinals of the PBA D-League Foundation Cup.

Lozada scored nine in an 11-3 Superchargers run in the second quarter to hold off the Gems and force a deciding game for the right to play NLEX in the semifinals.

After lackluster games in the eliminations, Heruela finally got back to his old form as he also grabbed seven rebounds and four assists to help the fifth-seeded Superchargers to victory.

“Brian played well. He carried us in this game with his playmaking. It was one of the factors that carried us,” said Big Chill coach Robert Sison, who is looking to pull off an upset similar to the 2013 Foundation Cup when they overcame twice-to-beat team Fruitas.

The knockout match is slated for Tuesday afternoon at the Meralco Gym.

Lozada led the second quarter run that put the Superchargers up, 34-25, at the half. Big Chill led 58-47 in the fourth, the biggest of the game, before staving off a late rally by Cebuana.

Paul Zamar had 16 points, while Marcy Arellano added 12 points for the Gems. - Reuben Terrado, SPIN

 

The scores:

Big Chill 72 – Lozada 22, Heruela 19, Villahermosa 9, Maiquez 7, Apinan 7, Miranda 2, Santos 2, Celada 2, Brondial 2, Canlas 0, Bonifacio 0, Belorio 0

Cebuana Lhuillier 64 – Zamar 16, Arellano 12, Gamalinda 9, Acibar 6, G. Banal 5, Leynes 4, Padilla 4, J. Banal 3, Mangahas 3, Ilad 2, Sarangay 0

Quarter scoring: 18-19, 34-25, 50-45, 72-64