NLEX runs through Big Chill to move closer to 3rd straight D-League title

PBA D-League/Nuki Sabio

Game Thursday
(Fil Oil-Flying V Arena)
2 p.m. Awarding Ceremonies
2:30 p.m. Big Chill vs NLEX
(NLEX leads series, 1-0)

It surely is a huge advantage to have a team loaded with talent. Just ask the NLEX Road Warriors.

NLEX leaned on another sizzling start to dismantle Big Chill, 86-71, in Game One of the PBA D-League Foundation Cup finals and inch closer to winning its third consecutive crown Monday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

A 14-0 run in the first period easily gave the Road Warriors an early advantage to seize the opening game of their best-of-three series.

RR Garcia and Ian Sangalang led a first-half onslaught to give NLEX a massive rout and extend its unbeaten slate this conference to 12 games.

The Road Warriors can finish off the Superchargers and win a historic three-peat and a grand sweep of the conference with a win on Thursday.

Otherwise, a deciding third game will be held on June 19.

“Credit goes to the boys. They really stepped up, they sticked to the game plan but its just one game and we need to win another one,” said coach Boyet Fernandez.

A non-factor during the semifinal win over Blackwater Sports after missing the elims to help Far Eastern University prepare for the UAAP season, Garcia nailed 10 points in the first half to finish with 12 points and four assists.

Sangalang had five first-quarter points before finishing with 14 points and nine rebounds. He was one of the main reasons why NLEX outrebounded Big Chill, 45-27.

The rest of the NLEX cagers contributed their own little way. Calvin Abueva led all scorers with 16 points aside from having five rebounds, three assists and two steals while Jake Pascual registered 11 points and four boards.

Emman Monfort scattered eight points, nine rebounds and five assists and Woody Co hit seven markers.

NLEX led by as much as 25 points during garbage time as Big Chill had a rough afternoon in its first-ever finals game.

Big Chill took an early 4-2 lead on a three-pointer by Alex Mallari but were soon outclassed by NLEX by muffing 14-of-17 shots while trailing 25-8 after the first period.

Mallari had 28 points but was the lone bright spot for Big Chill. Keith Jensen and Mac Montilla scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, but combined to shoot 9-of-23 from the field.

The scores:

NLEX 86 – Abueva 16, Sangalang 15, Garcia 12, Pascual 11, Monfort 8, Co 7, Ellis 6, Long 5, Hodge 5, Hermida 2, Dehesa 0, Lanete 0, Marcelo 0.

BIG CHILL 71 – Mallari 28, Jensen 11, Montilla 10, Cortes 6, Collado 6, Reyes 4, Villahermosa 3, Ponferrada 3, Viernes 0, Tan 0.

Quarters: 25-8; 44-28; 66-49; 86-71.

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