Gems, Chargers force three-way tie at second

MANILA, Philippines - Cebuana Lhuillier stunned Blackwater, 101-84, while Big Chill trounced Junior Powerade, 73-61, as they forged a three-way-tie at second in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the San Juan gym yesterday.

Lester Alvarez hit five of six triples in the second half as the Gems pulled away from a tight first half contest to catch their victims at 4-2, behind the league leading NLEX Warriors’ 5-0 mark.

Big Chill also improved to 4-2 with Keith Jensen leading the Super Chargers’ charge with an impressive 9-of-12 stint from the field. He finished with 18 points.

“I told the boys the race to the semis is close and we’re right there. Every game after our loss to Blackwater is a must win for us,” said Big Chill coach Robert Sison.

The Gems also pounced on the ouster of Kelly Nabong in the second half as the Blackwater mainstay was ejected for elbowing Kevin Alas in the face.

Nabong scored 11 points and had eight rebounds and one assist before he was tossed out.

Alas bounced back from a woeful one-point stint against NLEX as he came away with 18 points, two steals and two assists against the Elite while last year’s MVP Vic Manuel posted his second double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds.

Jensen, who also finished with three rebounds, two assists and two steals, knocked down key shots, including a slam in the third and a jumper in the last 69 seconds as Big Chill kept the Tigers at bay 71-61.

Alex Mallari, who finished with 17 points and five rebounds, then took over to finish off Junior Powerade.