Superchargers pound Bakers, enter q’finals

MANILA, Philippines - Big Chill used a strong first half to subdue Café France, 76-69, yesterday and secure its place in the quarterfinals of the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at The Arena in San Juan.

Mar Villahermosa and Ryan Buenafe scored 14 points apiece for the Superchargers, who snapped a two-game slump. They wound up the eliminations tied with the Cagayan Valley Rising Suns with 6-4 (win-loss) records.

“We need the win badly and the players really wanted to get back on the winning track. I’m happy they responded well,” said Big Chill coach Robert Sison. “I hope things would work in our favor.”

In the second game, Fruitas outplayed Boracay Rum in the second half and went on to beat the Waves, 73-61, to stay in contention for a quarterfinal berth.

Pong Escobal came up big in the fourth quarter, exploding for 20 points after going scoreless in the second and third quarters as Shakers outscored the Waves, 26-10, to finish the elims with a 5-5 record. Fruitas trailed Boracay Rum, 47-51 after three quarters.

Escobal eventually finished with 22 points while center Jan Colina added 13 and 11 rebounds for the Shakers, who will advance to the next round if Jose Rizal University (5-4) wins against Cebuana Lhuillier at the close of the elimination round tomorrow.

In contrast, Big Chill will be rooting for a victory by Cebuana because the third and fourth seed teams after the eliminations earn a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

A three-way tie among Cagayan Valley, JRU and Big Chill will relegate the Superchargers to fifth seed.

Jan Jamon rifled in 16 for Café France. Mark Lopez had 13, Mike Parala added 11 and as many rebounds and Roger Pogoy contributed 10 for the Bakers, who outscored the Superchargers, 43-29 in the second half and made the game exciting in the fourth.

Café France pulled to within four points twice – 61-65 and 63-67 – in the fourth quarter but couldn’t sustain the run to turn the game around. The Bakers wound up the elims with 4-6.

The Superchargers shot 52 percent from the field in the first half and led by as many as 21 points on successive three-point shots by Mark Canlas and Janus Lozada for a 46-25 advantage late in the second quarter.

Big Chill made 18 of 34 attempts in the first half and led, 47-28. at halftime.

The Superchargers played without star point guard Terrence Romeo, who will be out for 2-3 weeks with a hairline fracture in his right hand he sustained during their game against Informatics.

“Hope he can make it on time. Terrence plays a big role for us. Without him everybody will have to step up,” Sison said.

Boracay Rum took a 55-53 lead on Raymund Ilagan’s basket before Escobal strung up 12 straight points as Fruitas took the lead for good with 1:37 remaining in the fourth.

Maclean Sabellina scored 14 points and Roider Cabrera added 10 for Boracay Rum, which had its four-game winning streak snapped to finish the elims with a 4-5 card.

The scores:

Big Chill 76 – Buenafe 14, Villahermosa 14, Bringas 9, Canlas 8, Montilla 7, Brondial 6, Collado 6, Semira 5, Lozada 3, Santos 2, Nuyles 2, Holsein 0.

Café France 71 – Jamon 16, Lopez 13, Parala 11, Pogoy 10, Batino 6, Gallardo 5, Dela Cruz 5, Knuttel 3, Mendoza 2, Saitanan 0, Magbitang 0, Antipuesto 0.

Quarters: 21-12; 47-28; 64-53; 76-71

Second Game

Fruitas 73 – Escobal 22, Colina 13, Lastimlosa 9, Dedla Rosa 7, Caram 4, Silungan 4, Terso 4, Antonio 4, Mendoza 2, Escueta 2, Pascual 0.

Boracay Rum 61 – Sabellina 14, Cabrera 10, Siruma 9, Eguilos 8, Viernes 7, Ilagan 6, Arellano 3, Monteclaro 2, Taha 2, Acibar 0, Bandaying 0.

Quarters: 13-19; 33-29; 47-51; 73-61