Road Warriors extend win run, blast Jr Tigers

MANILA, Philippines - NLEX sized up Jr Powerade in the first quarter then imposed its will in the second onwards to post a runaway 86-53 victory yesterday to stretch its win run to three in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at The Arena in San Juan.

Cliff Hodge turned in a double-double job of 20 points and 10 rebounds, Chris Ellis had 12 points while Eman Monfort and Calvin Abueva added 10 markers each for the Road Warriors, who ripped the game apart with a 15-0 run at the onset of the second period.

Earlier, Raymond Ilagan scored with 1.7 seconds remaining as RnW Pacific Pipes edged Boracay Rum, 69-67, to notch its first win in three games while Cebuana Lhuillier toppled Café France, 84-72, late in the day.

“We’re a bit complacent in the first quarter. But we stepped up on defense in the second and that’s basically the story of the game,” said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez.

The Road Warriors dominated the boards, 65-37, and their defense held the Tigers to 19 of 72 shooting (26 percent). Their strong showing off the boards earned NLEX a 31-15 advantage on the offensive boards that netted them 27 second chance points.

Ian Sanggalang, who had six points and four rebounds, and Abueva were used sparingly after missing the game last Sunday but made the most of their stint, particularly in the shaded lane.

The scores:

First Game

Pacific Pipes 69 – Buensuceso 18, Ilagan 13, Teng 9, Sanvictores 7, Acidre 6, Gonzales 5, Elinon 4, Mariano 3, Colina 2, Antonio 2, Pe 0, Bustos 0.

Boracay Rum 67 – Bandaying 11, Siruma 10, Cornejo 9, Foronda 9, Sabellina 8, Hermosisima 6, Terso 67, Acibar 4, Eguilos 2, Rosopa 2, Morial 0.

Quarterscores: 19-13; 35-32; 52-50; 69-67  

Second Game

NLEX 86 – Hodge 20, Ellis 12, Monfort 10, Abueva 10, Belencion 8, Marcelo 8, Sanggalang 6, Lanete 5, Hermida 4, Arao 3, Long 0, Suguitan 0, Dehesa 0, Co 0.

Jr Powerade 53 – Padilla 16, Silungan 13, Hipolito 6, Gamboa 5, Ginrich 4, Reyes 4, Escueta 2, Cubo 2, Lopez 1, Wong 0.

Quarterscores 23-18; 42-30; 70-41; 86-53  

Third Game

Cebuana Lhuillier 84 – Manuel 18, Llagas 13, Alvarez 11, Celeda 10, Eximiniano 8, Hayes 6, Lozada 6, Apinan 5, Atkins 4, Almazan 2, Austria 1, Mangahas 0.

Café France 72 – Orbeta 17, Parala 14, Knuttel 11, Nimes 11, Ighalo 5, Guillen 2, Magat 2, Semira 1, Gallardo 0, Jasmin 0.

Quarterscores: 25-13; 47-24; 62-44; 84-72