Cafe France spills Big Chill for 3rd win in a row

Games Tomorrow

(San Juan Arena)

2 p.m. – Cebuana Lhuillier vs Hog’s Breath

4 p.m. – Informatics vs Blackwater Sports

MANILA, Philippines -- Michael Parala scored 15 points and Alfred Batino had 14 and 11 rebounds as Café France smothered Big Chill, 80-75, for its third consecutive win while Boracay Rum rallied in the fourth quarter to beat EA Regen Med, 85-75, on Monday in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at The Arena in San Juan.

The Bakers surprisingly dominated the game with sheer aggressiveness and focus and held off repeated comebacks by the Superchargers with grim determination.

“The players made some sacrifice during the Holy Week  and I thought that was a key point,” said Café France coach Egay Macaraya, whose team had a scrimmage against a Hong Kong team on Black Saturday.

“It turned out that game prepared us well for this [game]. I thought our defense was key to our strong start,” Macaraya added.

In contrast, the Waves struggled for three quarters before turning the game around by scoring 30 points in the fourth quarter.

Maclean Sabellina scored 10 of his game-high 22 points in the fourth quarter and teamed up with Roider Cabrera and Lucas Tagarda during a 10-0 run as Boracay Rum turned a three point deficit into a 70-63 lead that held on to the end.

“I hope this [win] will inspire the boys in our next game. At least they know we can win against a powerhouse team if we play as a team,” said Boracay Rum coach Lawrence Chongson.

It was tough loss for Team Delta, who posted several double-digit leads but shot just 9 of 34 in the second half. Worse, they committed 13 of their 23 turnovers during that stretch.

Jimbo Aquino scored 20 while Jeckster Apinan added 17, including 11 in the first quarter to help EA Regen Med take a 26-12 lead.

Big Chill held a 4-2 lead when Café France went on 25-3 run en route to the game’s biggest lead of 20 points and never trailed again. Parala, who made 5 of 7 shots, had nine points in that run.

Marion Magat scored 13 points including two powerful dunks in the stretch to slow down the charging Superchargers. Mark Lopez and Alvin Abundo had 10 points apiece while Jens Knuttel had nine assists for Cafe France, which improved to 3-1 [win-loss] record and tied Blackwater Sports at third place.

Terrence Romeo led all scorers with 23 points but couldn’t provide the spark to turn the game around. Mar Villahermosa scored 14 and Arvie Bringas contributed 13 for Big Chill, which fell to 2-2.

The Superchargers tried to turn things around in the second quarter and nearly pulled it off.

They moved within 75-78 on Romeo’s layup with 43 seconds left and had a chance to tie when Cafe France missed in their next possession. But Romeo's potential game-tying 3 rattled off the rim and Villahermosa was called for a loose ball foul.

Visibly frustrated, Big Chill coach Robert Sison protested the call that earned him his second technical and led to his ejection with 10. 6 seconds left in the game.

The scores:

Café France 80 – Parala 15, Batino 14, Magat 13, Lopez 10, Abundo 10, Knuttel 7, Silungan 6, Gallardo 5, Magbitang 0, Maconocido 0.

Big Chill 75 – Romeo 23, Villahermoda 14, Bringas 13, Nuyles 8, Santos 7, Canlas 6, Lozada 3, Heruela 1, Holstein 0, Dumapig 0, Montilla 0.

Quarters: 29-13; 47-34; 66-57; 80-75.

Second Game

Boracay Rum 85 – Sabellina 22, Taha 21, Viernes 10, Ilagan 8, Cabrera 8, Acibar 7, Eguilos 5, Tagarda 4, Arellano 0, Siruma 0, Bandaying 0, Rosopa 0, Monteclaro 0.

EA Regen Med 75 – Aquino 20, Apinan 17, Sanggalang 10, Bautista 8, Terso 7, Sanga 5, Maiquez 3, Juico 2, Almazan 2, Semira 1, Tolentino 0, Vitug 0, Miranda 0.

Quarters: 12-26; 36-42; 55-59; 85-75