The NLEX Road Warriors continued on their dynasty in the PBA D-League as they captured their fourth straight title by sweeping the Cagayan Valley Rising Suns, 82-71, in Game Two of the best-of-three finals in the Aspirants Cup yesterday at the San Juan Arena.
The Road Warriors got off to a fast start and did not give the Suns any chance with their tremendous depth of talent and skill.
Made up of the best amateur players in the country led by conference MVP Ian Sangalang, the Road Warriors remain to be the league’s first and only champions.
Garvo Lanete scored 17 points, Borgie Hermida had 10 and Jake Pascual grabbed 13 rebounds to help fuel NLEX’s fastbreak game. The Road Warriors won the battle of the boards, 54-36.
NLEX opened the first period with a 19-2 run that was anchored on the long-range sniping of Lanete and former UAAP MVP RR Garcia.
It was a run that signaled the demise of the Suns, who surprisingly made it all the way to the finals after not registering a single win in nine games during the last conference.
Cebuano guard and former Southwestern University (SWU) standout Eliud Poligrates tallied 21 points for Cagayan Valley. Mark Bringas scored 13 and Adrian Celeda added 12 for the Rising Suns.
Six straight free throws by Poligrates, Bringas and Edrian Lao pulled the Rising Suns within 54-61 with still 8:59 to play. But the Road Warriors answered right back with a 9-2 run to stretch the lead back to 70-56 on a jumper by Lanete with 6:14 remaining.
BOX SCORES
NLEX 82 – Lanete 17, Hermida 10, Slaughter 9, Sanggalang 9, Pascual J. 8, Long 8, Pascual R. 8, Alas 4, Camson 4, Garcia 3, Salva 2,Amer 0.
Cagayan Valley 71 – Poligrates 21, Bringas 13, Celeda 12, Lao 6. Almazan 5, Webb 4, Forrester 4, Exciminiano 4, Cruz 2, Melano 0, Montemayor 0.