Unbeaten teams out to keep win run in D-League

MANILA, Philippines - Big Chill and defending champion NLEX smell trouble when they deal with Café France and Boracay Rum, respectively, as the top two teams attempt to extend their early season success in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup.

Big Chill leads the 14-team field with a 5-0 record – its finest start  since joining the league in 2011– while NLEX has opened its title retention bid by winning its first two games.

Coaches of both teams, however, expect their troops to grind it out against their rivals, who are hard-pressed to win in a desperate effort to wheel back into the top 6.

The Superchargers stake their unbeaten record against the inspired Bakers at 12 noon while the Road Warriors plunge into action at 2 p.m. against the Waves, who are out to bounce back and regain their pride after an embarrassing 30-point loss to Cagayan Valley last Tuesday.

The 4 p.m. encounter between the Rising Suns and the Wang’s Basketball Couriers complete the scheduled triple-bill at the JCSGO gym in Cubao, Quezon City.

“Everybody is playing at the top of his game. But most important, we are playing as a team. I think that’s the key to our early success,” said Big Chill coach Robert Sison, after their 75-56 romp of Derulo Accelero on Thursday for their fifth straight.

He said Café France promises to be a tough matchup particularly with its frontcourt.

“They’re always a difficult matchup for us. So we got to be ready to play physical. Their bigs will sure be a tough challenge for us,” said Sison of Cameroonians Rodrigue Ebondo and Aristote Mutombo.

Café France, currently at seventh spot with 3-2 record, is seeking second straight after its 80-73 win against the Oilers Monday last week.