PBA D-League Finals: NLEX torches Cebuana Lhuillier 5, nears crown

MANILA, Philippines – The NLEX Road Warriors clamped down on defense and caught fire in the payoff period, seizing a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three finals against the Cebuana Lhuiller Gems, 76-62, in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup Thursday.

The Road Warriors unleashed four of their seven from downtown and limited the usually-explosive Gems to merely five points for a good eight minutes in the decisive fourth period.

“I’m happy my boys executed the game plan – a defensive game plan to limit Cebuana,” said coach Boyet Fernandez of NLEX.

A seven-to-nothing run to jumpstart the last frame gave the Road Warriors a secure double-digit lead all throughout the fourth, before triples from Ronald Pascual, Ogie Menor and Eric Salamat fueled it to as huge as 18 points.

Fil-American Cliff Hodge also proved to be a vital cog for NLEX’s defense as he finished with seven blocks, including confidence-deflating swats down the stretch that went with 10 markers.

Pascual, Menor and Salamat combined for 41 points, with the San Sebastian standout leading the way with 17 and nine boards.

“We’re are looking to win, but nothing is certain because Cebuana is a very good team,” added Fernandez as NLEX will try to wrap up the maiden D-League title on Thursday.

The Gems, meanwhile, will try to bounce back in game two of the series, as they did in the third quarter before taking a sound beating from NLEX.

After scoring just seven points in the second period, Cebuana Lhuiller then came storming back and outscored NLEX, 23-17, in the third to keep the game in manageable distance.

Allein Maliski, the main offensive option for the Gems, struggled from the field and needed 19 shots to finish with 21 points.

Nowhere to be found was the volume-shooting Kevin Alas, who orchestrated the onslaught in the semis match against PC Gilmore last week, but was held scoreless in this match.

The Gems also let the Road Warriors dominate the open court and snatch 16 fastbreak points compared to their four.

The scores:

NLEX 76 – Pascual 17, Menor 14, Hodge 10, Raymundo 8, Abueva 8, Salamat 7, Ellis 7, Dehesa 2, Taganas 2, Sangalang 1, Co 0.

CEBUANA 62 – Maliksi 21, Mepana 9, Fernandez 8, Mandani 6, Hayes 5, Sena 4, Semira 3, Llagas 2, Nabong 2, Canta 2, Alas 0, Elinon 0, Lee 0.

Quarters: 19-17; 36-24; 53-47; 76-62