D-League Finals: NLEX favored vs Freego five

Freego Jeans main man Lester Alvarez runs the break. The Jeans Makers swept Cebuana Lhuillier Gems to make it to the Finals. PBA IMAGE/ Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines – Their lone meeting this season resulted into a rout.

But even if NLEX is favored to pull off a repeat, the Road Warriors brace for a much improved Freego Jeans at the start of the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup championship series Thursday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

“They swept Cebuana, so they’re a strong team,” NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez said of the Jeans Makers, who stunned the No. 2 Gems with a semifinal sweep.

“They’re a very good team right now and they’ve been together for a long time. We expect it will be difficult, but we’ll be ready.”

Game 1 of the best-of-three title series is set at 3 p.m.

The defending champion Road Warriors had to go through the full distance in disposing Big Chill in the semifinals and Freego coach Leo Austria thinks this might work in their favor.

“We had the luxury to rest so that’s a good advantage for us,” said Austria. “But we really have nothing to lose. We’re the underdogs since the semifinal started.”

The two finalists only met once in the eliminations, where the top-seeded Road Warriors rolled past the Jeans Makers, 76-59.

The Road Warriors are noted for their firepower with varsity stars RR Garcia, Calvin Abueva, Ian Sangalang, Garvo Lanete, Dave Marcelo joining hands with Filipino-American standouts Cliff Hodge and Chris Ellis.

“It’s impossible for us to match up with their size and athleticism,” said Austria. “But if we could execute well, anything could happen.”

This teamwork is what the Jeans Makers hope to bank on with their core built around veteran Adamson players Lester Alvarez, Alex Nuyles, Eric Camson and Austin Manyara.