Fight spoils Warriors win over Pacific 5

MANILA, Philippines - NLEX outmuscled RnW Pacific Pipes in a fight-marred game, carving out a 77-63 victory to grab the early solo lead in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City yesterday.

Pacific Pipes guard Barnett Rogado fouled then punched Garvo Lanete with 6:39 left in the second period, triggering a near free-for-all. Cooler heads intervened and Rogado was slapped a Flagrant Foul Category 2 and was subsequently ejected from the game.

Lanete also drew a technical for second motion while teammates Woody Co, Eric Suguitan and Jaypee Belencion were called for Flagrant Foul Category 1 for putting up fighting stance.

Clifford Hodge scored 20 points on an impressive 7-of-9 shooting from the field and pulled down 10 rebounds, capping his dominating performance with a two-handed slam off a lob by Kirk Long that made it, 71-56, for the Road Warriors with 4:07 remaining in the game.

“It was a tough game but the players executed well and that spelled the difference,” said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez. “Pacific Pipes made things difficult for us with their defense. I’m just glad the guys stayed focus.”

NLEX played without Ian Sangalang and Calvin Abueva, who played for their school in an invitational tournament.

But the rest of the Road Warriors stepped up with Lanete turning in 15 points and Long making five assists for the defending champions, who outrebounded the Steelmasters, 49-41, to post their second straight win.

Earlier, Allan Santos scored on a putback at the buzzer as Big Chill rallied to beat Café France, 74-73.

Alwyn Elinon and Rocky Acidre each scored 12 points to show the way for Pacific Pipes, which shot just 33 percent from the field (19 of 56) and missed 17 free throws.

The Super Chargers trailed in the middle quarters but made one last ditch down the stretch with Santos barely coming through with the marginal basket after Charles Jensen misfired twice at point blank.

It took a while before the winner was declared as game officials reviewed the final play.

Big Chill thus evened its card to 1-1 in a tie with its victim, Erase Plantcenta and Blackwater.

It was tough loss for the Bakers, who led by as many as 12 points and had a 73-72 lead with 2.4 second remaining.

But they failed to hang tough as Josan Nimes blew two crucial plays in the closing seconds, the last when he opted to dribble the remaining time but lost the ball at baseline instead of just holding on to it.

“It was a well executed play,” said Big Chill new coach Roberto Sison.

Sison, who has been out of the basketball scene since 2007, was named the team’s new coach last week after management fired Sen Dysangco in the aftermath of the Super Charger’ heartbreaking loss to NLEX Tuesday last week.

“At first, I had second thoughts about accepting the job because I don’t know how to start. But somehow the owners convinced me,” said Santos, who had just five practice sessions with the team.

Alex Mallari scored 16 points, Jewel Ponferada had 12 and Mac Montilla added 11 for the Super Chargers, who shot poorly and struggled against Café France’s 1-3-1 defense.

Despite their offensive struggles, the Super Chargers managed to stay in the game as Mallari, Montilla, Jensen and Elliot Tan hit their marks in the fourth quarter. They finally grabbed the lead at 67-65 on back-to-back triples by Jeff Viernes and Montilla with 5:07 left in the contest.

Nimes, who was 2 for 7 in the first three quarters, scored six straight points and Mon Mabayo scored on a follow up off a miss by Knutil to put Café France back in front, 73-67, with 3:20 remaining.

Jens Knuttel tallied 18 points and had seven assists while Michael Parala contributed 17 and 12 rebounds for Café France.

Nimes scored 11 points in the fourth and finished with 15 markers.

Café France made 25 turnovers, eight in the fourth quarter

The scores:

First Game

Big Chill 74 – Mallari 74, Ponferada 12, Montilla 11, Jensen 8, Tan 8, Viernes 5, Reyes 5, Dizon 5, Santos 4, Collado 0, Glorioso 0.

Café France 73 – Knuttel 18, Parala 17, Nimes 15, Guillen 6, Mabayo 6, Semira 5, Orbeta 3, Jasmin 2, Ighalo 1, Garcia 0, Magbitang 0, Magat 0.

Quarterscores:17-16; 33-35; 53-58; 74-73 

Second Game

NLEX 77 – Hodge 20, Lanete 15, Co 9, Long 8, Hermida 7, Ellis 6, arao 5, Dehesa 5, Marcelo 2, suguitan 0, Belencion 0, Monfort 0.

Pacific Pipes 63 – Elinon 12, Acidre 12, Colina 8, Ilagan 8, Buensuceso 7, Gonzales 5, Bustos 3, Sanvictores 3, Mariano 2, Antonio 2, Rogado 1, de Guzman 0.

Quarterscores:17-13; 38-30; 56-47; 77-63