Johnny Lugay
Game Today (The Arena, San Juan)
3 p.m. – Big Chill vs Blackwater Sports
It boils down to a deciding Game Three for Big Chill and Blackwater Sports to determine which of them is the rightful challenger to defending champion NLEX for the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup.
Whatever advantages the two teams have against each other doesn’t matter anymore. The finale to their best-of-three semifinal series boils down to a battle of wills.
Blackwater Sports took Game 1, 84-72, but Big Chill got away with a bounce back 95-84 win in Game 2 to force the “You or I” encounter.
Defense has been the key for both teams in the first two games of the series and that’s how it’s gonna be again in the Game 3 on Tuesday. The deciding game is scheduled at 3 p.m. at The Arena in San Juan.
The Superchargers have never advanced to a title game since losing to NLEX in the 2011-12 Foundation Cup Finals.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve been in the Finals. I believe that we are the hungrier team. Our desire to make the Finals this time is what’s keeping us motivated,” said Big Chill coach Robert Sison.
“Defense will be the key in Game 3, especially, on our side because we are well aware that [Blackwater] will make their offensive adjustment. So we have to prepare for their man-to-man and zone defense. We have to have that positive energy to push us more aggressive defensively and offensively.”
Dexter Maiquez scored 25 points while Juneric Baloria and Jeckster Apinan had 13 apiece in Game 2. Sison expects them to stay aggressive in Game 3, particularly on offense.
Blackwater Sports coach Leo Isaac also believes the deciding game will be won by the team which executes well on defense.
The Elite are seeking their second straight Finals appearance and a title rematch with the Road Warriors, whom they defeated for the Foundation Cup last conference.
