Alas tows NLEX past Blackwater

MANILA, Philippines — Kevin Alas sparked a furious finish as NLEX came back from 16 points down to stun Blackwater Sports, 103-86, in a rematch of last conference’s finals in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup Thursday at JCSGO Gym.

Alas pumped in 23 points and Ola Adeogun also shone with 18 markers and 10 rebounds to lift the Road Warriors to an 8-1 record, which gave them an inside track to the top two and an outright semifinal berth.

“We just gave them a dose of their own medicine,” NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez said of the Elite, who ended his Road Warriors’ reign last year. “In the last finals, they played us press and zone [defense]. We gave them that, that’s why we won this game.”

The Road Warriors trailed by as many as 16 points, 49-65, late in the third quarter, before Alas, Adeogun, Garvo Lanete, Ronald Pascual and Art dela Cruz took over on both ends.

Earlier, Jumbo Plastic turned back Cebuana Lhuillier, 82-70, to secure the quarterfinal bonus behind the huge game of Jason Ballesteros.

The Giants, the first team to wrap up their elimination assignments, finished with a 10-3 record but will have to wait for two weeks before seeing action in the quarterfinals for the first time with a twice-to-beat edge.

Lanete fired all but one of his 17 points in the second half and Dela Cruz added 16 for the Road Warriors, who held the Elite to just a couple of baskets in the first five minutes of the fourth period.

The Elite, who have yet to secure a quarterfinal slot, dropped to 6-4.

Ballesteros posted a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds to power the Giants, who held the Gems scoreless for a six-minute stretch in the final quarter.

“We were more patient in the latter part,” said Giants coach Steve Tiu. “Even when we were up by 10 and they (Gems) recovered, we weren’t rattled. We adjusted by going big with (Marion) Magat and Ballesteros.”

In the first game, Paolo Taha and Chris Banchero combined for 36 markers as Boracay Rum routed Wangs Basketball, 90-68, for a 6-6 record in a battle of eliminated teams.

Magat shot six of his 10 points in the fourth period, where the Giants pulled away with a 12-0 run that turned their 64-66 deficit into a 76-66 advantage going into the final minute.

Jan Colina and Karl Dehesa chipped in12 points each for the Giants.

The scores:

First Game

BORACAY RUM 90—Taha 20, Banchero 16, Cabrera 11, Belo 9, Bautista 7, Ilagan 6, Viernes 5, Arellano 4, Siruma 4, SAbellina 4, Tagarda 2, Rosopa 2, Eguilos 0.

WANGS BASKETBALL 68—Juico 26, Franco 15, Banal 13, Gomez 4, Acosta 4, Ilad 2, Macuha 2, Lopez 23, Ferrer 0, Galliguez 0, Sanchez 0, Saitanan 0, Vijandre 0, Castro 0.

Quarters: 19-4, 44-21, 65-41, 90-68

Second Game

JUMBO PLASTIC 82—Ballesteros 23, Colina 12, Dehesa 12, Magat 10, Romero 8, Arboleda 6, Tan 5, Alano 4, Melegrito 2, Petilos 0.

CEBUANA LHUILLIER 70—Sumang 13, Gamalinda 13, Javier 12, Banal 8, Leynes 8, Paredes 6, Zamar 6, Olivares 2, Bustos 2, Martinez 0, Padilla 0, Casajeros 0, Flores 0.

Quarters: 17-26, 43-35, 62-60, 82-70

Third Game

NLEX 103—Alas 23, Adeogun 18, Lanete 17, Dela Cruz 16, J. Pascual 10, R. Pascual 8, Ganuelas 6, Raymundo 3 K. Pascual 2, Dela Rosa 0, Amer 0, Long 0, Hermida 0.

BLACKWATER SPORTS 86—A. Mangahas 22, Ferrer 12, Llagas 12, Ciriacruz 11, Cruz 10, Bulawan 9, Pe 4, Manguera 2, Bagatsing 2, Acibar 2, Avillanoza 0, Austria 0.

Quarters: 17-16, 41-45, 67-62, 103-86

RELATED STORIES:

Alas, Adeogun lead NLEX’s 4th quarter comeback vs Blackwater

PBA D-League: Ballesteros towers as Jumbo Plastic trips Cebuana

Boracay Rum starts prep for 2nd conference with win over Wangs