THE NLEX Road Warriors leaned on an explosive second half performance to make it two titles in a row as they hoisted in the championship in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup after beating the Freego Jeans, 89-75, in Game 2 of the best-of-three finals series yesterday at the Ynares Sports Arena.
The Jeansmakers were ahead, 45-41, at halftime but the Road Warriors roared out of the gates with RR Garcia and Chris Ellis making a three-pointer each to put them in the driver’s seat, 47-45. Garcia added a free-throw while Emman Monfort sank a medium-range jumper for a 50-45 advantage.
Later on, the highlight of the game was provided by the high-leaping Ellis, who threw down a ferocious slam that anchored their momentum and eventually put them on top, 65-58.
In the fourth canto, NCAA MVP Calvin Abueva and Ellis combined for a five-point cluster that erected a 12-point bulge, 81-69, with 4:32 left after the Jeansmakers came within seven with a trey by Lester Alvarez.
Freego tried desperately to come back but were repulsed each time by makes from Garcia and Cliff Hodge.
D–LEAGUE MVP
Versatile forward Vic Manuel of Cebuana Lhuillier was named as the PBA D-League Aspirant’s Cup Best Player of the Tournament.
Manuel, who has also suited up for the Mandaue-Cebu Landmasters squad in the Liga Pilipinas, has now added the diadem to his impressive collection of awards, which also include the PBL MVP award.
The slotman out of Philippine School of Business Administration averaged 15.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 0.9 blocks for the Gems this conference en route to an 8-2 (win-loss) card in the elimination round.
Nicknamed “The Muscle,” Manuel was the last PBL MVP in the league’s history, capturing the award in 2010 playing for the Pharex B-Complex squad.
His team this conference, however, suffered an early elimination after bowing to Freego Jeans in the semifinals.
Last conference, another Cebuana Lhuillier player in Allein Maliksi won the Best Player of the Conference in the Foundation Cup. Maliksi now plays for the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings in the PBA after being picked eighth overall by Barako Bull in the 2011 PBA draft. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio