NLEX bulldozes Cagayan Valley to draw first blood

MANILA, Philippines -- Game One of the PBA D-League Asprirants’ Cup titular series was a walk in the park for the NLEX Road Warriors.

Garvo Lanete made all his shots in the first quarter and the Road Warriors imposed their will on the Cagayan Valley Rising Suns early on for surprisingly easy 87-63 victory Thursday at the Ateneo Blue Eagles Gym.

“We played well. We made our shots early and we were able to match their energy. I’m so pleased with the way we played,” said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez afterwards.

“But this series is not over yet. We still have to wrap it up. Cagayan have so much pride so I’m sure they’ll come back strong.”

The defending champions can clinch their fourth consecutive championship with another victory on Tuesday at The Arena in San Juan. Game 3, if necessary, will be on Thursday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Lanete scored all his 10 points in the first quarter to get thing going for the Road Warriors. He went 3-for-3 around the baskets and went 4-of-4 from the line as NLEX set the pace early and took a double-digit lead at 22-12 on a follow shot by Kirk Long  midway in the opening quarter.

For all their aggressiveness and determination, the Rising Suns could only  provide a token of a challenge against their star-studded rivals, who proved to be a match-up nightmare with their bench depth.

Cagayan Valley simply had no answer for former NCAA MVP Ian Sanggalang, who got away with 20 effortless points for the Road Warriors, who shot 50 percent (33-of-65) from the field.  He also had eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in 20 minutes.

Reserve center Greg Slaughter also had big game with 11 points while Nico Salva and Borgie Hermida had 10 apiece. Hermida also had 11 assists as NLEX gained a 20-9 edge in that department.

“Our mind set is coming into the game is simple. Match their energy and play consistent defense. That’s the way its gonna be in Game 2,” Fernandez said. 

Eliud Poligrates scored 15 points while Joshua Webb and Mark Bringas chipped in 11 apiece for the Rising Suns, who show a woeful 32 percent (22-of-68) from the field while missing 22-of-38 free throw attempts. Worse, they committed 18 turnovers, most of them on bad passes that earned NLEX easy transition baskets.

The Rising Suns trailed 21-26 after one quarter and were just seven down with under seven minutes left in the second when the Road Warriors went on a 15-8 run to close the period. The 6-8 Slaughter ended the run with two free throws to give NLEX a 49-35 lead at halftime.

Cagayan completely lost its grip in the third quarter that saw them making just 5-of-23 attempts from the field.

Kirk Long capped NLEX’s third quarter breakaway by knocking a wide open 3-point shot that touched off a 13-4 run that gave the Road Warriors a commanding 70-46 advantage going into the fourth.  

The scores:

NLEX 87 – Sanggalang 15, Slaughter 11, Salva 10, Hermida 10, LAnete 10, Long 9, Garcia 6, Amer 5, Pacual J. 4, Ganuela 2, Alas 2, Sumalinog 2, Camson 1, Pascual R. 0.

Cagayan Valley 63 – Poligrates 15, Webb 11, Bringas 11, Almazan 8, Lao 7, Forrester 4, Eximiniano 4, Celeda 3, Pasculado 0, Cruz 0, Canta 0, Melano 0, Montemayor 0.

Quarters: 26-21; 49-35; 70-46; 87-63