PBA D-League: NLEX routs RnW to boost semis chances

NLEX routed RnW Pacific Pipes, 106-76, to boost its semifinal chances in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup Thursday at the Meralco gym in Pasig City. The Road Warriors improved to a 7-1 win-loss card to widen their lead with third-placer Freego Jeans to one-and-a-half games. NLEX needs just to win one of its two remaining matches to clinch an outright semifinal berth. The Road Warriors led by a manageable nine points, 48-39, at the half but pulled away in the third where they outscored the Steelmasters, 26-18. RR Garcia had 21 points while Garvo Lanete finished with 16 markers with their three-pointers in the fourth canto to foil RnW’s chances of making a comeback. "We played bad defense so during halftime, I told them to play defense. They heeded the call because it's going to be difficult to win on offense alone," said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez. A 9-0 blast midway in the third pushed NLEX's advantage to 18, 69-51. The Road Warriors never looked back and scored at will to turn the match into a lopsided contest. NLEX will next play Cebuana Lhuillier on January 12 in a rematch of the Foundation Cup finals before ending the elimination round against Café France on January 17. RnW Pacific Pipes dropped to a 4-4 record in fifth place in the team standings. — JVP/KG, GMA News Scores: