Warriors nip Erasers, earn spot in semis

MANILA, Philippines - Cliff Hodge made clutch three-pointer with 38 seconds remaining as NLEX secured its place in the semifinals of the PBA D-League Foundation Cup with an 85-76 victory over Erase Plantcenta yesterday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

That shot cushioned a fiery fourth quarter charge by the Erasers, who battled back from 24-points down and pulled within 74-76 on a lay-up by Macky Acosta with 2:07 to play.

Hodge scored 18 points, Kirk Long and Ford Arao had 15 points apiece and Eman Monfort dished off eight assists for the Road Warriors, who stayed perfect in six games and stirred up its bid for a third straight championship.

“Erase did a good job coming back. We were ready for their press but did not execute our press break well enough. But a win is still a win so we’ll take it,” said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez.

Earlier, Rnw Pacific Pipes blew an 11-point third-quarter lead and had to grind it out to beat the Cagayan Rising Suns, 90-87.

Raymond Ilagan had 10 rebounds to go with his 10 points, including the game-clinching free throws with 3.8 seconds remaining as the Steel Masters won their fourth straight game.

More important, the Steel Masters (4-2) pulled abreast with Big Chill, Cebuana Lhuillier and Blackwater Sports at second place and joined the hunt for the second outright semifinal spot.

 The defending champions were without power forward Calvin Abueva and center Ian Sanggalang for the second straight game and their absence nearly made a difference in the fourth quarter.

Abueva and Sanggalang are training in the United States as part of their school’s team preparation for the coming NCAA wars.

Allan Mangahas led all scorers with 19 points. He also had 11 rebounds as Erase Plancenta, surprisingly, outrebounded NLEX, 50-42.

June Dizon and Acosta had 13 points each and Andretti Stevens added 11 for the Erasers, who had a chance to tie the game at 76 but Jett Vidal badly missed an open shot under the basket with 1:26 remaining.

NLEX shot 60 percent (17 of 28) from the field in the first half and went to the locker room with a 47-33 lead.

The Road Warriors enjoyed their biggest lead at 64-40 on basket by Long late in the third.