NLEX guard Kirk Long (right) parries a wayward elbow from Big Chill counterpart Alex Mallari in yesterday’s Game 1. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
IT LOOKED like NLEX couldn’t wait to pick up its third straight crown.
The Road Warriors stormed to a huge lead right in the first quarter before coasting to an 86-71 triumph over Big Chill yesterday and moving within a win of clinching the PBA D-League Foundation Cup championship at the Ynares Sports Arena.
Calvin Abueva and Ian Sangalang powered the Road Warriors to a 19-point lead, 25-6, in the first nine minutes of the best-of-three title opener and the Road Warriors kept their double-digit buffer the rest of the way with RR Garcia and Jake Pascual taking charge from there.
NLEX coach Boyer Fernandez, who had anticipated a tight series, said the Road Warriors focused on stopping the Superchargers’ scoring juggernaut early.
“Our defense was spectacular,” said Fernandez. “They (Superchargers) are the No. 1 team in offense, averaging more than 80 points and we’re the No. 1 team in defense. The only way we can win this ball game is to play defense and make stops.”
Abueva led the Road Warriors with 16 points aside from collecting five rebounds, three assists and a couple of steals. Sangalang added 14 markers and nine boards, while Garcia shot 12 points and dished out four assists.
The Road Warriors, who extended their winning streak to 12, will try to complete a historic perfect season in Game 2 on Thursday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Alex Mallari fired 18 of his 28 points in the second half as the Superchargers closed to within 14 points, 68-54, but the Road Warriors responded with nine unanswered points to boost the lead back to 23 at 77-54.
Another quick scoring spurt gave the Road Warriors their biggest lead, 84-57, going into the final three minutes.
“They (Road Warriors) started strong and they were able to sustain it,” said Big Chill coach Robert Sison. “Their scouting worked well in this game. They were the better team.”
The scores:
NLEX 86—Abueva 16, Sangalang 14, Garcia 12, Pascual 11, Monfort 8, Co 7, Ellis 6, Long 5, Hodge 5, Hermida 2, Dehesa 0, Lanete 0, Marcelo 0.
BIG CHILL 71—Mallari 28, Jensen 11, Montilla 10, Cortes 6, Collado 6, Reyes 4, Villahermosa 3, Ponferrada 3, Viernes 0, Tan 0.
Quarters: 25-8, 44-28, 66-49, 86-71