Cagayan 5, Big Chill eye semis berths

Games today

2 p.m. – Cagayan Valley vs Cebuana Lhuillier

4 p.m. – Big Chill vs JRU

MANILA, Philippines - Cagayan Valley and Big Chill take on separate rivals today, looking for victories and spots in the Final Four of the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at The Arena in San Juan.

The Rising Suns and the Superchargers need to win just once against Cebuana Lhuillier and Jose Rizal University to join elims topnotcher and defending champion NLEX and Blackwater Sports in the semifinal round.

Cagayan, which finished No. 3 after the elims, faces No. 6 Cebuana at 2 p.m. while Big Chill, which ended No. 4, battles No. 5 JRU in a pair of quarterfinal matches expected to go either way.

The Rising Suns, who had a winless campaign in last conference’s Foundation Cup, lost to the Gems, 82-86, in the elims but vowed to get back at their tormentor for a stint in the next round.

“We have an opportunity to get even. But our focus is to get to the next level. Cebuana was really impressive in their last two games so we have play defense for 40 minutes. If we could keep the game close and be consistent with our defensive effort I think we have a chance,” said Cagayan coach Alvin Pua.

Pua overhauled his roster and signed up collegiate potentials and talented role players during the off-season, transforming the team from a struggling squad to an overnight title contender.

The Gems, however, remain confident of their chances to score a repeat and crash into the semis. 

“They (Rising Suns) are playing solid. But right now we really don’t care who we play with. We’re just happy to make the quarters despite all the troubles we’ve encountered in the elims. Who knows we might be lucky again,” said Cebuana coach Beaujing Acot.