NLEX had so many things going wrong early. Yet the defending champion found ways to make it right behind a veteran quartet to move within a win of another stint in the PBA D-League Finals.
Kirk Long, Greg Slaughter, RR Garcia and Jake Pascual came to the rescue in the second half as the Road Warriors survived a Big Chill squad that proved too hard to shake off, 66-59, in the semifinals opener yesterday at Blue Eagle Gym in Loyola Heights.
“That’s not our game,” said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez. “We were rusty. We were not ourselves in this game, we had many turnovers and missed so many foul shots. I’m just happy to go out with a win.”
Blackwater Sports also took a 1-0 lead in its own best-of-three series after posting a 79-69 triumph over Boracay Rum.
Gio Ciriacruz topscored with 16 and Allan Mangahas collected 14 points, six rebounds and eight assists for the Elite, who outscored the Waves, 24-13, in the third period to pull away from a 35-35 deadlock.
Pascual and Slaughter teamed up for half of a decisive 14-0 outburst to help the Road Warriors wrest control in the second half, 57-45, after trailing at 43-45.
Long finished with 14 points and four assists, while Pascual had a double-double of 10 markers and 13 rebounds.
The scores:
First Game
NLEX 66—Long 14, J. Pascual 10, Garcia 10, Slaughter 7, R. Pascual 5, Camson 5, Lanete 5, Alas 4, Salva 3, Ganueas 2, Villarias 0, Amer 0, Hermida 0, Taganas 0.
BIG CHILL 59—Romeo 21, Apinan 11, Canlas 7, Bringas 6, Villahermosa 6, Holstein 4, Montilla 2, Santos 2, Heruela 0, Dumapig 0, Lozada 0.
Quarters: 8-10, 27-20, 47-45, 66-59
Second Game
BLACKWATER SPORTS 79—Ciriacruz 16, A. Mangahas 14, Chua 12, Suguitan 10, Celiz 8, Llagas 7, Ferrer 6, Bagatsing 3, Austria 2, Vigil 1, Sing 0, Mazo 0, Pe 0, J. Mangahas 0.
BORACAY RUM 69—Sabellina 15, Viernes 14, Fernandez 10, Acibar 8, Arellano 6, Aguilos 4, Taha 4, Rosopa 3, Pasculado 2, Tagarda 2, Ilagan 1, Siruma 0, Bandaying 0.
Quarters: 20-16, 35-35, 59-48, 79-69