CLIFF Hodge and Calvin Abueva provided the fourth-quarter boost NLEX sorely needed to thwart Blackwater Sports, 86-77, and claim Game 1 of the PBA D-League Foundation Cup semifinals yesterday at the Ynares Sports Arena.
Hodge dropped 10 of his game-high 22 points in the final quarter and Abueva shot six of his 13 in the same period to help the Road Warriors surge ahead in the game.
Cebuana Lhuillier also overcame a poor start to hack out a 79-66 triumph over Big Chill and secure a 1-0 lead in the other best-of-three semifinal series.
Chris Exciminano fired 16 points, while MVP Vic Manuel and reserve James Mangahas also had 10 each for the Gems. With a report from Jan Edward B. Ballesteros
The scores:
First Game
NLEX 86—Hodge 22, Abueva 13, Monfort 11, Ellis 9, Sangalang 7, Lanete 7, Long 6, Co 5, Hermida 4, Marcelo 2, Pascual 0, Garcia 0.
BLACKWATER 77—Zamar 18, Nabong 16, Bautista 12, Celiz 8, Mandani 7, Fortuna 4, Brinags 4, Jeffries 4, Pascual 2, Ciriacruz 2.
Quarters: 16-14, 34-31, 59-58, 86-77
Second Game
C. LHUILLIER 79—Exciminiano 16, Mangahas 10, Manuel 10, Llagas 9, Alas 7, Apinan 7, Alvarez 6, Taha 5, Hayes 4, Austria 2, Lozada 2, Atkins 1, Almazan 0, Miranda 0.
BIG CHILL 66—Reyes 17, Montilla 13, Jensen 13, Tan 6, Viernes 5, Ponferrada 5, Mallari 3, Cortes 2, Villahermosa 2, Collado 0, Glorioso 0.
Quarters: 14-14, 33-37, 58-51, 79-66