Four teams eye tickets to the finals as the deciding Game Three of the semifinals series between the NLEX Road Warriors and the Jose Rizal University and the Blackwater Elite and the Cagayan Valley Rising Suns gets underway today in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at the Arena in San Juan City.
JRU and Blackwater came up with gutsy wins in Game Two last week that pushed their respective matchups to deciding games.
The Heavy Bombers staved off elimination by stunning the defending champion NLEX Road Warriors, 108-85, while the Elite got back at the Cagayan Valley Rising Suns, 98-82.
John Villarias got away with 24 points while Philip Paniamogan and Dexter Maiquez had 20 points apiece to underscore JRU’s remarkable shooting in Game 2, which put NLEX’s reign of terror in this league near the brink of its end.
The unexpected defeat has apparently shaken the Road Warriors, who are now facing tremendous pressure with their quest for a fourth straight championship hanging in the balance.
NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez said flaws in the team’s defense caused the downfall in Game 2.
Justine Chua showed the way for Blackwater Sports in Game 2 with 16 points.
Robby Celiz added 16 but his biggest contribution was holding Cagayan’s James Forrester to just seven points. The Rising Suns’ shooting forward exploded for 25 points in Game 1.