Undermanned NLEX parades Parks, routs Cafe France

Amboy De Leon of Cafe France (light) tries to block Kevin Alas of NLEX as he drives to the hoop. Nuki Sabio/PBA

MANILA, Philippines – Ray Parks finally made his NLEX debut as the shorthanded Road Warriors overwhelmed Cafe France, 88-67, in the 2014 PBA D-League Foundation Cup Tuesday at the Meralco Gym.

Ronald Pascual topscored with 23 points while last conference’s MVP Garvo Lanete scored 10 of his 15 points in the first quarter to set the tone for NLEX, which remained the only unbeaten team in the league with a 4-0 record.

Parks, the two-time UAAP MVP, also posted 15 points to go along with four assists in 24 minutes.

“Our key players stepped up early but I thought it was a total team effort on both ends,” said NLEX assistant coach Mon Celis. “Ray Ray (Parks) also gave us a lift.”

The Road Warriors played without Ola Adeogun, Art dela Cruz, Baser Amer, Kyle Pascual, Ryusei Koga and head coach Boyet Fernandez, who are in Lithuania with the rest of the San Beda team as part of the Red Lions preparations for the next NCAA season.

NLEX though, still had more than enough talent in tow.

Pascual had six 3-pointers and half of those came in one stretch late in the second quarter – hitting three in a row – that put NLEX on top, 49-19.

The Bakers, who slipped to 2-2, found themselves trailing big early with their outside shots not finding the mark.

“Our defense held up. I thought Cafe France had an off night. They missed a lot of open shots,” Celis said.

Cafe France went two-of-12 from the field in the first quarter, where it trailed 6-19, and just 35% for the game.

Alvin Abundo came off-the-bench to lead the Bakers with 19 points.