PBA-DL: NLEX notches first Foundation Cup win, blows out Hog's Breath Cafe

The defending champions NLEX Road Warriors nabbed their first win in the PBA-DL Foundation Cup, slaughtering the Hog's Breath Cafe Razorbacks, 90-54, Tuesday at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

NLEX head coach Boyet Fernandez welcomed the win as a dose of positivity for his squad. "The first two games and until this first half we were really adjusting so I told the boys wag na nating isipin yung dalawa [Greg Slaughter and Ian Sangalang]," he said.

"We were starting to doubt ourselves rin, but I give credit to the boys and they really wanted to get back in the win column," he said. "I'm happy everybody stepped up."

The 7'0" Slaughter took a leave of absence to concentrate on his studies, while the 6'6" Sangalang was released to EA Regen Med.

NLEX emphatically moved out of the league basement with a 1-2 card, leaving the Informatics Icons (0-3) as the sole squad without a victory. On the other hand, the Razorbacks absorbed their second loss in a row and 1-3, tying fellow newcomers Jumbo Plastic Giants.

Jake Pascual received player of the game honors for his 13-point, 12-rebound effort. Garvo Lanete and RR Garcia added 18 and 14 points respectively, while combining for 8-of-13 from beyond the arc.

Fast break points (19-7) and turnover points (17-5) were the story of the game, as NLEX turned the ball over six times in contrast to the Razorback's 17 turnovers.

Three-point shooting was also key in the game as the Road Warriors shot 10-of-28 (38.5 percent) from long-range, while Hog's Breath were only 4-of-26 (15.4 percent).

The Road Warriors came out blazing in the first quarter, as the inside-outside tandem of Garvo Lanete and Jake Pascual netted NLEX a 15-5 lead. Save for two three-pointers by Jonathan Belorio, the Razorbacks were misfiring throughout the period before Mark Pangilinan split charities with 9.6 left, as they mercifully broke into double digits after the first period, 20-10.

The second quarter saw a better defensive effort from Hog's Breath, but NLEX pushed it to the limit as they were determined to score inside. The Road Warriors tallied their next nine from the line or in the paint, as a fast break basket by EJ Camson made it a 29-15 game.

However, NLEX took a steep dive in the last four minutes of the game, allowing the Razorbacks cling on. Hog's Breath outscored them the rest of the way, 8-3, to end the quarter at 32-22.

After two quarters, the Road Warriors was 11-of-39 from the field (28.2 percent) while the Razorbacks were 7-of-30 (23.3 percent).


When play resumed, the Road Warriors wasted no time putting the game away. Borgie Hermida scored or dished for 10 points in a 12-0 barrage. Ronald Roy made consecutive baskets with three minutes into the period, but the distraction was brief as Ronald Pascual and Lanete rattled off the Road Warriors' next nine points. A put-back by Jake Pascual would cap a 23-6 run, 55-27, with three minutes to play.

Hog's Breath made a few baskets in a row, capped by a Pangilinan trey, but Lanete replied with his fifth triple of the game, 58-33, to establish the biggest lead of the game with a minute and a half left remaining. Despite having the game well in hand, the Road Warriors gave their foes no quarter and racked up the points all the way until the final buzzer.

Mark Pangilinan led the Razorbacks with 13 points, while Kevin Racal tallied 12 points and eight boards. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

NLEX 90: Lanete 18, Garcia 14, J Pascual 13, Salva 8, Ganuelas 8, Alas 8, R Pascual 7, Hermida 5, Camson 4, Vallarias 2, Long 2, Amer 0

HOG'S BREATH 54: Pangilinan 13, Racal 12, Roy 7, Belorio 7, Malinao 5, Rabalo 4, Eman 2, Robles 2, Pacquiao 2, Alguno 0, Cayabyab 0, Macasaet 0, Lima 0

Quarter scoring: 20-10, 32-22, 60-35, 90-54