Big Chill, Cebuana in do-or-die for D-League finals spot

PBA D-League/Nuki Sabio

The Big Chill Superchargers are on the verge of making their first PBA D-League finals appearance, and coach Robert Sison is confident about his team’s chances.

“The swing of momentum is on our side and the team wants to take that as an opportunity to sustain what we did in our last game,” said Sison, whose squad fashioned out a 111-70 beatdown of Cebuana Lhuillier in the second game of the best-of-three series last Tuesday to force the rubber match.

“We have a very deep understanding of how Cebuana play. We know exactly how to counter it. It all boils down to execution.”

The two team’s settle their score Thursday, 2 p.m. at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Sison’s Cebuana counterpart, Beaujing Acot, is hoping his team has moved on from the Game Two nightmare.

“They played very well last game and we played really bad. That’s basketball. There is always a winner. What’s important is that we still have a chance to bounce back from our bad game,” Acot said.

Filipino-American forward Alex Mallari led the charge for Big Chill, scoring 20 points in the second game after being ejected in the series opener.

Sison said he expects the Gems to get tougher in the rubber match.

“We expect Cebuana to be more physical in the winner-take-all match and we are ready. We made adjustments for whatever physicality they will throw at us,” Sison said.

Awaiting the winner of the game are the NLEX Road Warriors, who dispatched Blackwater Elite in the semifinals to continue their unbeaten run in the tournament.

Follow @interaksyon