INQUIRER PHOTO/ August dela Cruz
MANILA, Philippines – Defending champion NLEX, with a slew of high-caliber players headed by college stars RR Garcia and Calvin Abueva, slotman Ian Sangalang sometimes gets overlooked.
Sangalang though, made sure his presence was felt in the previous week as he helped the Road Warriors, who are now a win away from their second straight PBA D-League title, cruise past Big Chill and Freego Jeans.
The San Sebastian center dominated with 20 points, eight rebounds and two blocks Thursday in Game 1 of their best-of-three championship series against Freego. NLEX easily won, 75-51.
In the Road Warriors’ series-clinching win over the Superchargers, Sangalang flirted with a double-double of eight points and nine rebounds. Sangalang didn’t miss a shot in four tries.
The six-foot-six beanpole, who was named as the PCCL MVP, beat Garcia, the 2010 UAAP MVP, for the weekly citation.
Garcia had his way and got NLEX’ running game going as he normed 14.5 points, four rebounds and four assists a game but Sangalang’s inside presence proved to be more vital on both ends of the floor.
Game 2 of the Finals will be on Tuesday with NLEX aiming for the sweep at the San Juan Arena.
Lester Alvarez, Alex Nuyles, Eric Camson and the rest of the Jeans Makers though, have other plans in mind as they look to bounce back from their sub-par outing in Game 1.