MANILA, Philippines—NLEX virtually feasted on a hard-luck Freego Jeans Thursday, roaring to a 75-51 victory at the Ynares Sports Center to move within a win of a second straight PBA D-League championship.
Ian Sangalang spurred a dominant start as the Road Warriors easily took the series opener of the Aspirants Cup against the Jeans Makers, who hardly showed the form that rewarded them with the first title slot at the expense of the highly regarded Cebuana Lhuillier in the semifinals.
“They (Jeans Makers) were just missing their shots, even their foul shots,” said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez. “Probably they’re off because of their long break.”
Sangalang got his way inside the paint too often to finish with a game-high 20 points, eight rebounds and a couple of blocks.
The Road Warriors will try to wrap it up in Game 2 of the best-of-three title series on Tuesday at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Freego fired many blanks and ended up with a shooting clip of 27.9 percent. They were also outrebounded, 59-35.
RR Garcia finished with 13 points and dished out five assists, and Garvo Lanete and Cliff Hodge also had eight points each for NLEX. Calvin Abueva also came off the bench to grab 15 rebounds to go with seven points.
The Road Warriors struck hard in the second quarter, holding the Jeans Makers scoreless in the last seven minutes of the first half, and running away with a 14-0 blitz for a 40-21 lead at the break.
Another 14-4 surge at the start of the third period—with Sangalang and Garcia combining for 12—gave the Road Warriors their biggest advantage at 29 points, 54-25.
Lester Alvarez shot 13 points for the Jeans Makers, who only had five points and registered a horrendous 11.8 shooting percentage from the field in the second period.
The scores:
NLEX 75—Sangalang 20, Garcia 13, Lanete 8, Hodge 8, Abueva 7, Monfort 5, Marcelo 5, Co 3, Hermida 2, Suguitan 2, Belencion 2, Arao 0, Ellis 0, Dehesa 0.
FREEGO 51—Alvarez 13, Camson 8, Nuyles 7, Cabrera 6, Manyara 5, Apinan 4, Austria 2, Brondial 2, Lopez 2, Lozada 1, Elinon 1, Monteclaro 0.
Quarters: 21-16, 40-21, 57-32, 75-51