PBA-DL: Wary Road Warriors, Gems face upset-seeking Tigers and Bakers

The defending champion NLEX Road Warriors look to avoid an upset loss to the surprising Junior Powerade Tigers while notching their third straight win in the middle game of a triple header, Tuesday at the Arena in San Juan, in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup.   The Tigers returned to the D-League after a one conference absence last week in stunning fashion, carving out a come-from-behind 84-79 win over Blackwater Sports.   “We must not be complacent. This team has just beaten a pre-tournament powerhouse. We have to stay with our system if we want to win,” NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez said.   Drawing the majority of their players from the collegiate University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, the victory was a grand upset in favor of the Tigers, whose core are using the conference as preparation for the upcoming UAAP wars.   On the other hand, the Road Warriors pulled off quite a feat as well, dispatching the RnW Pacific Pipes 77-63 last week without stalwarts Calvin Abueva and Ian Sangalang. The duo from the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Stags was with their schoolmates, participating in an invitational tourney.   “I have no idea when they’ll be back. But I hope they could join the team in time for our game against Powerade,” said Fernandez.   In the other games, the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems face a dangerous Café France Bakers team at 4 p.m., while the Boracay Rum Waves go up against the RnW Pacific Pipes Steelmasters at noon.   The Gems routed the Boracay Rum Waves, 70-58, in their first outing of the conference, but will definitely have their hands full against the improved Café France.   The Bakers nearly won their match last match, against the Big Chill Super Chargers, had it not been for Allan Santos’ buzzer-beating basket. The former Lyceum Pirate and Adamson Falcon handed his squad the 74-73 squeaker with a shot at the horn.   “Café France is for real,” said Cebuana Lhuillier coach Luigi Trillo. “They won by 20 in their first game against Erase Plantcenta and led most of the way before losing to Big Chill.”   Meanwhile, Boracay Rum and RnW Pacific Pipes are seeking their first victories this conference. – AMD, GMA News