Garvo Lanete of NLEX (light) vs Marion Magat of Jumbo (dark).. Nuki Sabio/PBA
MANILA, Philippines — NLEX was admittedly not in game shape, but it had enough energy to halt Jumbo Plastic, 89-70, Thursday in the 2014 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Arena in San Juan.
The Road Warriors held the Giants to just 11 measly points in the third quarter and pulled away for good, after neither side led by more than six in the first half.
“We’re not 100 percent in game shape. But I challenged the players. 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.
The Road Warriors scored their third straight win for a 6-1 record and a chance for an outright semifinal berth.
“It’s still a long way for us. We’re not looking ahead. Our next three games are really tough so we have to really get back into shape fast,” Fernandez said.
Jumbo Plastic, meanwhile, had its three-game winning streak snapped and bade goodbye to a crack at an outright semis bonus.
The Giants were just two down with still seven minutes left in the second quarter butt Garvo Lanete and Matthew Ganuelas took charge for NLEX and conspired for a 45-38 halftime lead.
Back-to-back threes by Elliot Tan pulled Jumbo Plastic within 44-49 early in the third quarter but the Road Warriors closed the period with a 20-5 blast to pull away.
Lanete sizzled with 27 points, Ola Adeogun and Art dela Cruz scored 14 and 10 points respectively off the bench while Ganuelas also had 10 to help the Road Warriors.
Tan finished with 17 points, Harry Petilos had 14 and Harold Arboleda chipped in 10 for the Giants, who remained at third spot with an 8-3 mark.