NLEX SURVIVES BIG CHILL

THE DEFENDING champions NLEX Road Warriors kept their season alive as they kept their poise in crunchtime to survive the Big Chill Superchargers, 69-62, in Game 2 of the best-of-three semifinals series in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup yesterday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The Road Warriors saw all of their 24-point lead third period lead evaporate into thin air but luckily had former UAAP MVP RR Garcia bail them out with his clutch shooting. Garcia struggled with his shooting but made the shot that mattered. His lay-up with 3:08 remaining gave NLEX back the lead for good and set off a 13-5 windup by the top-seeded Road Warriors.

Garcia finished with 15 points despite going 5 for 22, including 1 of 10 from behind the arc. Clifford Hodge tallied 11 points and had 12 rebounds and Garbo Lanete contributed 10 points for the Road Warriors, who won against the Super Chargers for the first time in three games this conference.

Game 3 of the best-of-three series is set on Tuesday also at the Ynares Sports Arena./Correspondent Jonas Panerio