NLEX crushes Boracay Rum

MANILA, Philippines—Hardly showing rust from a two-week break, NLEX rolled over Boracay Rum, 77-54, Tuesday even as Cafe France and PC Gilmore fashioned out crucial victories to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup.

The Road Warriors came out with all guns ablaze in the second period to take the fight out of the Waves and stay in the hunt for an outright semifinal berth.

The Bakers stunned Freego Jeans, 78-76, for only their third win in eight games, while the Wizards also kept their slim quarterfinal hopes afloat with an 84-75 trouncing of Dub Unlimited.

Jeff Viernes starred for Cafe France, hitting the last nine points for the Bakers in the final two
minutes on his way to a game-high 24 points.

The guard from the University of Manila capped his heroics with a stepback triple with 25 seconds remaining and a split from the free throw line for the final count.

Alex Nuyles, on his second game back from injury, paced the Jeans Makers with 22 points but missed a potential game-winning triple at the buzzer.

The Jeans Makers’ third loss in six games also handed pacesetter Cebuana Lhuillier (8-1) with the first outright semifinal seat.

With the win, the Wizards gained a tie at eighth spot with Cafe France. Only the third to sixth-ranked teams will gain quarterfinal spots.

The Road Warriors, who improved to 6-1, could join the Gems in the semifinals if they win at least two of their last three games in the elimination-round.

The scores:
First Game
PC GILMORE 84—Taha 19, Acosta 13, Celiz 12,
Mandani 11, Sarangay 9, Nabong 9, Vidal 7, Cagoco 4, Agas 0, Foronda 0, Lim 0.
DUB UNLIMITED 75—Zamar 15, Aguilar 12, Villahermosa 11, Gomez 10, Hugnatan 8, Bustos 6, Bolos 6, Gonzales 4, Melegrito 3, Wong 0, Leynes 0.
Quarters: 15-9, 34-31, 56-55, 84-75
Second Game
NLEX 77—Ellis 12, Abueva 10, Marcelo 10, Garcia 8, Lanete 8, Hodge 7, Belencion 7, Co 5, Dehesa 4, Monfort 3, Sanggalang 2, Arao 1, Suguitan 0, Reyes 0.
BORACAY RUM 54—Bandaying 15, Hermosisima 13, Wguilos 10, Morial 6, Siruma 5, Sabellina 2, Terso 2,
Baloran 1, Rosopa 0, Cornejo 0, Khobuntin 0, Abaya 0, De Guzman 0.
Quarters: 14-13, 37-21, 54-34, 77-54
Third Game
CAFE FRANCE 78—Viernes 24, Guillen 14, Mabayo 12, Montilla 10, Parala 8, Antipuesto 8, Magbitang 2,
Dumaping 0, Jasmin 0, Lucernas 0, Alquisalas 0,
FREEGO 76—Nuyles 22, Camson 13, Alvarez 10,
Apinan 9, Austria 8, Manyara 4, Monteclaro 3, Cabrera 3, Brondial 3, Lopez 1, Lozada 0, Sumalinog 0.
Quarters: 13-17, 32-41, 61-60, 78-76