NLEX survived a Jose Rizal University squad that kept battling back to book a ticket to the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup finals.
Kevin Alas and Ian Sangalang carried the scoring load and Kirk Long made a key block in the dying seconds as the Road Warriors escaped the Bombers, 87-85, in the thrilling winner-take-all Game 3 of the semifinals yesterday at Filoil Flying V Arena.
“It’s a relief to be able to get past JRU,” NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez said after his three-time champions nearly saw their reign come to an end against the hot-shooting Bombers.
The Road Warriors face an unlikely finalist in Cagayan Valley, which completed its upset of No. 2 Blackwater Sports with an 80-68 victory in the other knockout semifinal duel.
Eliud Poligrates, Joshua Webb and Mark Bringas fueled a strong second half where the Rising Suns led by as many as 15 points, 76-61.
“I’m very happy since this is our first time in the finals,” said Cagayan coach Alvin Pua.
Game 1 of the title series is set at 3 p.m. tomorrow at Blue Eagle Gym in Ateneo.
Alas fired all but two of his 19 points in the second half and Sangalang shot eight of his 14 in the last four minutes to keep NLEX afloat against JRU.
John Byron Villarias and Anthony Del Rio towed JRU to within 84-85, but Ronald Pascual nailed two free throws with 9.8 ticks left to keep the Road Warriors ahead, 87-84.
After a Khasim Mirza free throw made it 87-85, Villarias—who shot 21 of his 25 points from three-point range—tried to seal the major upset but Long foiled his potential game-winning triple in the dying seconds.
The scores:
First Game
CAGAYAN 80—Poligrates 17, Webb 11, Bringas 11, Celada 10, Lao 9, Almazan 8, Exciminiano 7, Melano 5, Cruz 2, Pasculado 0, Forrester 0, Montemayor 0.
BLACKWATER 68—Ferrer 18, Celiz 12, Llagas 11, Mangahas 10, Chua 8, Bagatsing 2, Abdul 2, Vigil 2, Fortuna 2, Ciriacruz G. 1,Pe 0, Ciriacruz I. 0.
Quarters: 21-15, 35-40, 57-54, 80-68
Second Game
NLEX 87—Alas 19, Sangalang 14, Pascual J. 13, Pascual R. 11, Camson 9, Salva 7, Sumalinog 4, Lanete 4, Long 3, Hermida 3, Amer 0, Garcia 0.
JRU-AIR 21 85—Villarias 25, Pinto 15, Maiquez 15, Del Rio 13, Mirza 10, Mabulac 6, Paniamogan 1, Lopez 0, Almario 0, Ighalo 0, Miranda 0, Apinan 0.
Quarters: 19-15, 40-32, 64-57, 87-85