Elite repulse Bakers, gain D-L semis

MANILA, Philippines - Blackwater Sports rode on a big second quarter run to rout Café France, 89-69, and roll into the semifinal round of the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Meralco gym in Pasig yesterday.

But while the No. 3 defending champion Elite joined NLEX and Jumbo Plastic in the Final Four, Big Chill trounced No. 4 Cebuana Lhuillier, 72-64, to force a sudden death for the last semis seat.

Allan Mangahas hit two triples as the Elite used a 17-6 run in the second period to break off from a tight first quarter and lead by as many as 14 points.

Jericho Cruz poured 18 of game-high 24 points in the second half and had five assists, Gilbert Bulawan had 17 markers and Reil Cervantes contributed 14 points for the Elite, who will face the Giants in a best-of-three series starting Thursday.

Quinton Heruela scored eight of his 19 points in the fourth quarter to help the Superchargers defeat the Gems to force a playoff for No. 4 on Tuesday.

“A lot of people were asking me if we can do it. And we did,” said Big Chill coach Robert Sison after his troops remained in the semis hunt.

The Superchargers broke a 25-all count with a 9-0 binge to close out the second quarter and never trailed again.