Undermanned NLEX stretches PBA D-League run

Garvo Lanete. PBA D-LEAGUE IMAGE by Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines — Garvo Lanete and Kevin Alas sparked a fiery start as the undermanned NLEX Road Warriors rolled to an 83-74 victory over Cagayan Valley Monday to keep the lead in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at JCSGO Gym.

The Road Warriors stretched their winning streak to five games with Lanete, who topscored with 22 points, and Alas combining for 23 points right in the first quarter as NLEX surged ahead for good at 29-18.

Earlier, Jumbo Plastic and Blackwater Sports staged furious fourth-quarter rallies to dispose of separate opponents.

The Giants dropped a 17-3 bomb in the final quarter to hack out a 73-63 victory over Hog’s Breath Cafe and tie for second with a 3-1 mark.

Jeff Viernes drilled 10 of his team-high 16 points in the fourth period, where the Giants turned a 52-56 deficit into a 10-point advantage, 69-59, going into the final two minutes.

The defending champion Elite banked on Allan Mangahas and Mark Cruz down the wire to slip past tenacious Derulo Accelero, 96-93.

“It’s good that they (players) woke up,” said Blackwater coach Leo Isaac of his Elite (2-2).

Mangahas fired 18 points on top of seven rebounds, four assists and a couple of steals, while Cruz shot 4-of-4 from three-point range.

The scores:

First Game

BLACKWATER 96—Mangahas 18, M. Cruz 14, Bulawan 13, Cervantes 13, Trollano 8, Ciriacruz 7, J. Cruz 6, Hernandez 4, Ferrer 4, Llagas 4, Pinto 3, Pe 2, Manguera 0, Austria 0.

DERULO ACCELERO 93—Jalalon 22, Juico 20, Soyud 19, Bautista 14, Corpuz 4, Mendoza 4, Importante 4, Roncal 2, Acosta 2, Morillo 2.

Quarters: 24-19, 38-38, 66-72, 96-93

Second Game

JUMBO PLASTIC 73—Viernes 16, Romero 15, Colina 14, Cañada 8, Dehesa 6, Villamor 6, Tan 5, Petilos 3, Custodio 0, Magat 0, Parala 0, Ballesteros 0.

HOG’S BREATH CAFE 63—Rios 12, Terso 10, Belencion 8, Sanga 8, Austria 7, Racal 5, Ruaya 4, Najorda 3, Publico 2, Avillanoza 2, Robles 2, Macasaet 0, Gabawan 0.

Quarters: 16-17, 36-42, 52-56, 73-6

Third Game

NLEX 83—Lanete 22, Alas 14, Parks 11, J. Pascual 9, R. Pascual 9, Dela Rosa 5, Long 5, Raymundo 4, Del Rosario 2, Ganuelas 2, Villarias 0, Hermida 0.

CAGAYAN VALLEY 74—Ighalo 21, Melano 18, Webb 10, Revilla 7, Galliguez 6, Gomez 4, Daquioag 3, Casajeros 3, Foronda 2, Olivares 0, Collado 0, Vidal 0, Bangga 0.

Quarters: 29-18, 42-35, 68-53, 83-74