Road Warriors, Elite close in on PBA D-League title clash

NLEX’s Ola Adeogun (10) and Blackwater’s Allan Mangahas (4) battle for the rebound during the Road Warriors’ win over and the Elite on Jan. 16 in the elimination round . NLEX and Blackwater both beat their respective foes Tuesday to move a win away from arranging a Finals rematch. PBA Image/Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines — Back from injury, Garvo Lanete got his fiery form back as well to power NLEX within a win of a championship berth following a 99-74 dumping of Hog’s Breath Cafe in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup Tuesday at Filoil Flying V Arena.

Lanete, who sat out two games due to a shoulder injury, teamed up with Kevin Alas in a hot start that put the Road Warriors up by 19 points right in the first quarter, 31-12, in Game 1 of their best-of-three semifinals.

“We caught them on an off night,” said coach Boyet Fernandez as his top-seeded Road Warriors built leads of more than 30 points against the Razorbacks.

“They were missing their shots and even their free throws.”

Blackwater Sports, on a roll after escaping elimination four straight times, also downed Big Chill, 84-72, to take a 1-0 lead in their own semifinal series.

Jericho Cruz buried 19 points, 10 in the second quarter where the Elite pulled away from a 29-all deadlock to build a 47-36 lead at the half.

“As we were getting one victory after another, we were using those victories to motivate the players further and improve their confidence level,” said Blackwater coach Leo Isaac.

The Road Warriors and the No. 6 Elite, who stunned NLEX last conference to bag their first crown, will shoot for a series sweep Thursday.

Lanete, a leading candidate for the MVP plum, paced the Road Warriors with 23 points, 12 coming from three-point range.

Matt Ganuelas added 14 points and nine boards, while Alas fired all of his 12 points in the first half for the Road Warriors.

Aside from their woeful shooting, the Razorbacks also had to do without head coach Caloy Garcia in the second half after he was ejected due to excessive complaining in the third quarter.

The scores:

First Game

NLEX 99—Lanete 23, Ganuelas 14, Alas 12, J. Pascual 11, Dela Rosa 9, Adeogun 8, R. Pascual 8, Hermida 5, Raymundo 4, K. Pascual 4, Long 1, Dela Cruz 0, Koga 0, Amer 0.

HOG’S BREATH CAFE 74—Publico 13, Ruaya 11, Sanga 10, Allera 9, Gabawan 7, Paniamogan 7, Racal 6, Robles 5, Austria 4, Rios 2, Macasaet 0, Belorio 0, Terso 0.

Quarters: 31-12, 45-26, 71-45, 99-74

Second Game

BLACKWATER SPORTS 84—Cruz 19, Mangahas 15, Ferrer 10, Llagas 10, Austria 10, Bulawan 9, Ciriacruz 8, Bagatsing 3, Pe 0. 

BIG CHILL 72—Cervantes 22, Baloria 12, Villahermosa 10, Lozada 10, Mirza 6, Apinan 5, Brondial 3, Canlas 2, Maiquez 2, Heruela 0.

Quarters: 21-23, 47-36, 70-52, 84-72