Warriors survive Giants

Games Monday (JCSGO Gym) 

12 p.m. – Wangs Basketball vs Banco de Oro

2 p.m. – NLEX vs Café France

4 p.m. – Cebuana Lhuillier vs Arellano U

MANILA, Philippines - NLEX continued to struggle but still found a way to thump Jumbo Plastic, 89-70, and enhance its bid for an outright semifinal berth in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Garvo Lanete scored 27 points and the Road Warriors held the Giants to 11 points in the third quarter en route to posting their third straight win and sixth overall against a loss. Jumbo Plastic dropped to 8-3.

“We’re not 100 percent in game shape. But I challenge the players during our practice and told them that  if we can’t play better than we did against Wangs, we’re in trouble. I thought we played a lot better than last Tuesday. But more importantly, we played good defense and that was the key,” said NLEX coach Boyet Fernadez.

Hog’s Breath Café, meanwhile, checked its skid as it held off National U-Banco de Oro, 87-80, to tie Jumbo Plastic at third.

The Razorbacks took control in the third quarter but had to quash the Bulldogs’ series of fightbacks in the fourth to secure the win.

Philip Paniamogan pumped in 12 of his game-high 15 points in the second quarter as Hog’s Breath Café took a 48-41 lead at halftime before pulling away in the third, 71-54.

“I’m happy that slump is finally over. Today we focus on rebounding and we also got everybody involved,” said Hog’s Breath coach Caloy Garcia.

Jethroy Rosario and Bobby Ray Park Jr. each scored 20 points for Banco de Oro, which fell to 1-7.

The NLEX-Jumbo Plastic match was close in the first half with neither team leading more than six points.