NLEX got its big man back and scored a big win over EA Regens, 103-86, yesterday to clinch the No. 1 spot and the first outright semifinal berth in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at Ynares Sports Arena.
Nico Salva topscored with 19 points and Greg Slaughter, suiting up for the first time this conference, came off the bench with 16 to lead the Road Warriors’ second-half breakaway.
“I thought Greg made the difference in this game,” NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez said of his seven-foot Ateneo standout who missed the majority of NLEX’s games in the eliminations to focus on his studies.
The defending champion Road Warriors streaked to their eighth straight victory for a league-best 8-2 card, leaving idle Blackwater Sports (8-3) and Fruitas (7-2) to dispute the No. 2 spot that comes with the last automatic semifinal slot.
Earlier, Jelo Montecastro and Raymund Aguilar fired 13 points each to power Cebuana Lhuillier to a 63-54 upset of Cagayan Valley that kept its quarterfinal hopes alive.
June Dizon added a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Gems’ much needed victory that forged a four-way tie for fifth place at 6-5 with its victim, EA Regens and idle Big Chill.
Only the top two teams at the end of the eliminations will jump straight to the Final Four as an incentive, while the next four will clash in the quarterfinals.
Salva and Kevin Alas combined for all but one of the Road Warriors’ points in a 16-2 run that gave them an 86-66 lead.
The scores:
First Game
CEBUANA LHUILLIER 63—Montecastro 13, Aguilar 13, Dizon 12, Buensuceso 11, Banal 5, Martinez 3, Bautista 2, Zamar 2, Lopez 2, Mirza 0, Padilla 0, Sarangay 0.
CAGAYAN VALLEY 54—Bringas 13, Canta 9, Cruz 6, Celada 6, webb 4, Poligrates 4, Melano 4, Mercader 3, Exciminiano 3, Lao 2, Matute 0.
Quarters: 6-12, 21-27, 46-43, 63-54
Second Game
NLEX 103—Salva 19, Slaughter 16, Long 14, Camson 14, Villarias 9, Alas 7, Pascual R. 6, Hermida 6, Garcia 6, Pascual J. 4, Ganuelas 2.
EA REGENS 86—Aquino 18, Sangalang 17, Nuyles 12, Juico 10, Almazan 10, Bautista 6, Miranda 4, Maiquez 4, Terso 3, Tolentino 2, Allen 0, Del Rio 0.
Quarters: 24-24, 50-45, 76-64, 103-86