Hodge's three-point play lifts NLEX past PC Gilmore

Clifford Hodge came up with a go-ahead three-point play with 3.9 seconds left in the game as North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) posted a hard-earned 88-87 win over PC Gilmore Tuesday in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) D-League Foundation Cup at the JCSGO gym in Cubao, Quezon City. Hodge received an assist from Pamboy Raymundo, soared over Macky Acosta for a tough shot, and then completed the three-point play that served as the marginal basket and gave the Road Warriors the top spot in Group A with a 3-1 mark. That three-point play by Hodge completed the Road Warriors’ comeback from 13 points down, 60-47, in the third quarter. Hodge led all Road Warriors scorers with 21 points along with five rebounds and two blocks while Ian Sangalang had 18 points and 13 rebounds. “We were just lucky to win this game," said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez. “Credit PC Gilmore and coach Richard Del Rosario, they really did a good job against us." “Credit our guys who stepped up. We were lucky that we made those stops late in the game," said Fernandez, whose team missed the services of Calvin Abueva for most part of the match. Abueva was thrown out of the game after being called for a Flagrant Foul Penalty 2 for putting his foot on the landing spot of Franz Dysam after the Wizards guard took off for a shot. Jaypee Belencion and ex-pro Ogie Menor had 16 and 10, respectively including lay-ups down the stretch that kept the Road Warriors in the thick of things. After Hodge’s three-point play, PC Gilmore’s Jeff Vidal missed a potential game-winning basket and the Wizards dropped to third place at 2-2 behind idle Pharex and Blackwater (2-1). The Wizards even led, 86-81, with 1:52 left in the game, but Belencion and Menor conspired as they scored on lay-ups as NLEX came to within one point. Acosta split his free throws to give the Wizards an 87-85 lead, but Hodge came through with the biggest plays of the game — a completed three-point play. Carlo Lastimosa had 24 points on 3-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc while Acosta had 18 points for the Wizards. - RCJ, Reuben Terrado, GMA News