NLEX grabbed the solo lead even as Blackwater Sports blew its second try to nail the first semifinal berth in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup yesterday at Ynares Sports Arena.
The defending champion Road Warriors rolled past winless Informatics, 96-64, to wrest the top spot at 7-2, while Boracay Rum spoiled the Elite’s bid in a 96-89 upset win that dropped Blackwater Sports to second at 7-3.
Earlier, EA Regens dumped Jumbo Plastics, 105-79, and boosted its quarterfinal hopes by tying for fourth with Boracay Rum and idle Cagayan Valley at 6-4.
RR Garcia fired 18 points to tow the Road Warriors to their seventh straight triumph—just a win away from an outright semifinal berth.
The scores:
First Game
EA REGENS105—Nuyles 21, Almazan 17, Sangalang 16, Juico 15, Aquino 15, Miranda 7, Tolentino 4, Terso 4, Bautista 4, Allen 2, Del Rio 0.
JUMBO PLASTIC 79—Mariano 15, Dehesa 15, Escueta 11, Gomez 10, Tan 10, Acosta 7, Hayes 4, Vidal 3, Del Rosario 2, Najorda 2, Ignacio 0.
Quarters: 20-23, 48-38, 74-62, 105-79
Second Game
BORACAY RUM 96—Taha 24, Pasculado 15, Siruma 15, Acibar 10, Sabellina 10, Eguilos 7, Fernandez 6, Ilagan 5, Arellano 2, Tagarda 2.
BLACKWATER SPORTS 89—Ciriacruz 17, Ferrer 15, Chua 13, Celiz 13, Vigil 9, Mangahas A. 9, Bagatsing 4, Mangahas J. 4, Suguitan 3, Llagas 2, Pe 0, Austria 0.
Quarters: 23-22, 52-44, 81-66, 96-89
Third Game
NLEX 96—Garcia 18, Salva 15, Pascual J. 12, Camson 12, Ganuelas 9, Hermida 9, Pascual R. 8, Villarias 7, Alas 4, Long 2, Calomot 0, Taganas 0.
INFORMATICS 64—Montuano 15, Acidre 10, Benitez 7, Mabayo 7, Melegrito 6, Morales 4, Gamboa 4, Altamirano 3, Ibay 2, Acuna 1.
Quarters: 18-10, 39-25, 68-40, 96-64