Road Warriors take luster off Cebu Gems

MANILA, Philippines - An undermanned NLEX side dominated Cebuana Lhuillier with a superb all-around game and came away with a 76-63 win for its fifth straight victory in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City yesterday.

Cliff Hodge sizzled with 20 points and hauled down 13 rebounds while Garvo Lanete added 13 markers for the Road Warriors, who kept their win run going despite the absence of San Sebastian standouts Calvin Abueva and Ian Sangalang.

“Give credits to the guys, they proved they can win without Calvin and Ian,” said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez, which led by as many as 27 (48-21) in the second quarter when Hodge sank a three-pointer on the top of the key.

Kevin Alas returned after missing Cebuana’s first four games but struggled for just a solitary point, leaving the bulk of the scoring load to reigning MVP Vic Manuel, who hit 21 points and completed a double-double game with 11 rebounds.

The Road Warriors took the opener, 27-19, and raced to several double-digit spreads, never giving the Gems room for comeback with timely baskets in a highly physical contest.

Cebuana’s Marvin Hayes was slapped with a flagrant foul penalty one for colliding with a soaring Chris Ellis in the opening period while Karl Dehesa of NLEX was also assessed a technical foul in the second quarter after clashing with Janus Lozada of Cebuana.

NLEX managed to stay away from the reach of Cebuana as Hodge scored on a slam off a Borgie Hermida assist for a 65-50 lead going to the fourth quarter.Earlier, RnW Pacific Pipes used a strong start to rout Cafe France, 89-75, to post its third win in five games for a tie with idle Big Chill at third.

Raymond Aguilar, a late addition to the Steelmakers’ roster, led the way for the PacPipes with 20 points and seven rebounds while Raymond Ilagan posted another double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

The scores:

First Game

RnW Pacific Pipes 89 – Aguilar 20, Ilagan 18, Teng 16, Buensuceso 15, Acidre 7, Colina 3, Bustos 3, De Guzman 2, Gonzales 2, Sanvictores 2, Rogado 1, Pe 0, Mariano 0, Antonio 0.

Café France 75 – Garcia 25, Parala 13, Nimes 10, Knuttel 6, Semira 5, Mabayo 4, Jeruta 2, Gallardo 2, Guillen 2, Magbitang 2, Orbeta 2, Magat 2, Ighalo 0.

Quarterscores: 23-13, 43-29, 61-51, 89-75  

 Second Game

NLEX 76 – Hodge 20, Lanete 13, Marcelo 9, Pascual 7, Long 7, Ellis 7, Monfort 5, Hermida 4, Suguitan 2, Arao 2, Dehesa 0, Co 0.

Cebuana Lhuillier 63 – Manuel 21, Llagas 11, Alvarez 11, Celeda 6, Eximiniano 5, Almazan 2, Hayes 2, Atkins 2, Lozada 2, Alas 1, Austria 0, Apinan 0.

Quarterscores: 27-19, 50-29; 65-50; 76-63