Big Chill, NLEX face lowly rivals

MANILA, Philippines - Big Chill and NLEX try to bolster their respective semifinal bids as they take on a pair of lowly rivals in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at the Meralco gym today.

The Super Chargers (5-3) battle the winless PC Gilmore Wizards at 2 p.m. while the Road Warriors (3-1) square off with the Wheelers (1-5) in the 4 p.m. main game.

The PC Gilmore Wizards (0-4) and DUB Unlimited Wheelers (1-5), both deep in the bottom half of the team standings, battle outright semifinal hopefuls Big Chill Superchargers (5-3) and NLEX Road Warriors (3-1), respectively, beginning at 2 p.m. at the Meralco Gym along Ortigas Ave.

For PC Gilmore team consultant Richard Del Rosario, this is a do-or-die game for the team he had led to a semifinal finish in the previous Foundation Cup. “We’re going all out to get that elusive first win,” said the ex-pro cager.

The Wizards led league co-leader Cebuana Lhuillier by five going into the final four minutes in their last outing, only to falter and lose, 67-76.

On the other hand, Big Chill seeks a follow-up to a pulsating 85-75 win over Boracay Rum two days ago in a game where they trailed by 10 with seven minutes remaining but got big games down the stretch from unheralded gunners Jopher Custodio and Jerry Glorioso.

Big Chill coach Arsenio Dysangco thinks if they can win their two remaining games, they should get a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals at the very least. “But PC Gilmore has improved a lot in its last two games,” said the bespectacled mentor. “I am worried they are poised for a breakout game.

“Which is why I believe the key to the game will be keeping our intensity and playing hard as a team,” said Dysangco.

NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez thinks DUB Unlimited is a dangerous team. “They had beaten Freego and they are playing as a team right now so we have to double our efforts if we want to keep pace with the league leaders,” he said.

“Eman Monfort and Dave Marcelo are questionable for the game because of their school commitments at the same time so we just have to find a way to win,” said Fernandez, the only PBA D-League mentor with a PBA title under his belt.

NLEX is coming off a tough 75-73 win over Blackwater Elite last Monday while the Wheelers dropped a close 68-72 decision to the Waves later that same day.