NLEX played minus several key cogs, but still got away with a huge 91-67 triumph over Big Chill to stay unbeaten in six games in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena.
The Road Warriors jumped to a 9-0 start, stretched the gap to 46-29 by halftime and quickly turned the highly anticipated rematch of last conference’s finalists into a rout.
Ian Sangalang pumped in 20 points off the bench and Jake Pascual posted a double-double of 13 markers and 10 rebounds for the Road Warriors, who played minus Ateneo players Nico Salva, Greg Slaughter and Oping Sumalinog due to school commitments.
The Road Warriors hardly felt their absence after shooting a hot 56 percent from the field in the first half and playing with a defensive intensity that coach Boyet Fernandez praised.
“In the previous five games, our defense was suspect,” he said. “But tonight the players committed to playing defense and I thought they did very, very well.”
The Road Warriors, who stretched their spotless run to a record 23 games, handed the Superchargers their first loss in five outings.
Earlier, Carlo Lastimosa fired a career-high 30 points as Fruitas tripped Erase Xfoliant, 78-73, to tie its victim at 2-3.
Lastimosa nailed the Shakers’ last three points as Pong Escobal also came through with key baskets for 18 points.
The scores:
First Game
FRUITAS 78—Lastimosa 30, Escobal 18, Colina 9, Escueta 8, Dela Rosa 5, Mendoza 2, Pascual 2, Silungan 2, Terso 2, Caram 0, Belleza 0, Paguia 0.
ERASE XFOLIANT 73—Gomez 20, Najorda 10, Matute 10, Allen 9, Vidal 9, Babayemi 7, Omorogbe 5, Arboleda 3, Banal 0, Acosta 0, Stevens 0.
Quarters: 19-26, 40-42, 58-60, 78-73
Second Game
NLEX 91—Sangalang 20, Pascual 13, Camson 12, Hermida 11, Long 9, Pascual R. 9, Lanate 8, Garcia 5, Ganuelas 2, Alas 2, Escoto 0, Amer 0.
BIG CHILL 67—Romeo 19, Montilla 15, Collado 11, Bringas 8, Canta 4, Lozada 4, Montecastro 2, Villahermosa 2, Santos 2, Brondial 0, Canlas 0, Cortes 0.
Quarters: 20-12, 46-29, 72-45, 91-67