PBA D-League Foundation Cup
Team Standings
Group A
W L
NLEX 3 1
Black Water 3 1
PC Gilmore 3 2
Pharex 2 2
Freego Jeans 1 3
RnW Pacific Pipes 1 4
Group B
W L
Cobra Energy Drink 3 1
Cebuana Lhuillier 3 1
Max! Bond Super Glue 2 1
FCA 2 1
Maynilad 3 3
Junior Powerade 1 3
Café France 0 4
Games Tuesday
(Arellano U gym, Legarda)
2 p.m. – RnW Pacific Pipes vs Pharex
4 p.m. – Junior Powerade vs Max! Bond Super Glue
North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) got its game going early on the way to a
81-62 victory against the cold-shooting Blackwater Elite Thursday in
the PBA D-League Foudation Cup Classification round at the Arellano U
gym in Legarda, Manila.
The game that promises to be an interesting match-up, turned out to be
a mismatch.
The Road Warriors separated from the Elite after just 20 minutes
behind an excellent ball movement and aggressive defense that
frustrated Blackwater’s go to guys.
“The past games we started slow. But today we had a good start and we
played good defense. Obviously D was the key. To limit Blackwater to
62 points only showed how much effort the players put on defense,”
said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez.
Eric Salamat scored 19 points and Calvin Abueva added 12 and 11
rebounds for the Road Warriors, who assumed the solo lead in Group A
with a 4-1 record and bolster their hopes of making it outright to the
quarterfinals.
NLEX shot just 44 percent (16 of 36) in the first half but held the
Elite to 9 of 33 shooting with their pressure defense that help them
built a commanding 44-27 lead at halftime.
It was a walk in the park from their from there for the Road Warriors
as the Elite couldn’t put a run that could change the outcome of the
game.
Andrian Celeda led Black Water with 14 points. Gio Ciriacruz was the
only other elite in double figure with 11. Blackwater, which shot just
35 percent (23 of 66) for the game, had its three-game winning streak
snapped, fell to 3-2.
Earlier, Paul Sanga found his shooting touch in the fourth quarter and
the Cobra Energy Drink Ironmen, who played catch up for most of the
game, kept Café France winless in four games with a 74-67 victory in
Group B.
The Ironmen, who rebounded from a stunning 75-77 loss against Max!
Bond Super Glue last April 14, outscored the Scorpions, 27-13, in the
fourth quarter to clinch their third win in four games and tied
Cebuana Lhuillier for first place in Group B.
“We struggled with our offense in the first half. But the guys didn’t
give. They battled even when things didn’t look good,” said Cobra
Energy Drink coach Lawrence Chongson.
“Café France played a good game and we needed some luck down the
stretch to pull this off.”
Sanga scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and led Cobra Energy
Drink with 17 points on 7 of 13 shooting. He had only six points
through three quarters, but the 6-foot-4 forward made 4 of 7 attempts
in the fourth to spark Cobra’s fiery charge.
The Ironmen trailed by seven entering the fourth, but opened the
period with a 14-4 run. Sanga ended that run with eight straight
points including two 3-pointers as Cobra Energy Drink led for the
first time, 61-58, with 7:38 to go.
A 3-pointer by Grevanni Rublico put Café France back in front, 65-64,
but John Foronda made two free throws in the ensuing play and Paul Lee
(14 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists) added two more to put the Ironmen
ahead to stay.
It was another frustrating loss for the Scorpions. They led by as many
as 13 in the first half and by 12 in third quarter but couldn’t finish
the game, going 1 for 9 in the final 3:23.
Rublico led all scorers with 20 points, including 6 for 12 from the
3-point range. But managed just six points in the second half with
Sanga holding him to just 1 of 4 shooting in the fourth.
Café France’s center Jewel Ponferada had thee blocks and he and Ramon
Magbayo combined for 21 rebounds although the Ironmen still won the
battle of the boards, 47-45.
The scores:
First Game
Cobra Energy Drink 74 – Sanga 17, Lee 14, Acibar 12, Baloran 10,
Foronda 8, Hermosisima 7, Reyes 5, Eguilos 1, Mendoza 0, Raypon 0,
Rosopa 0, Bandaying 0.
Café France 67 – Rublico 20, Mabayo 12, Bulangis 11, Ponferada 6,
Almario 5, Gallardo 4, Babad 2, Chua 2, Lobato 2, Magbitang 2, Banyas
1, Garcia 0.
Quarters: 15-23; 30-35; 47-54; 74-67
Second Game
NLEX 81 -- Salamat 19, Menor 17, Hodge 13, Abueva 12, Ellis 6, Tesoro
4, Pascual 3, Raymundo 2, Suguitan 2, Co 2, Sanggalang 1, Belencion 0,
Reyes 0, Dehesa 0.
Blackwater 62 – Celeda 14, Ciriacruz 11, Saret 8, Mazo 6, Acidre 6,
Zulueta 4, Belorio 3, Lapuz 3, Ablaza 3, Caperal 2, Del Rosario 2,
Limpat 0, Del Rosario 0.
Quarters: 21-9, 44-27; 65-48; 81-62.PR
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