NLEX regains winning form with win over Cobra
The NLEX Road Warriors got back to its winning ways after thumping Cobra Energy Drink, 81-65, Monday in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at the Far Eastern University gym.
The Road Warriors recovered from their 85-83 defeat against Big Chill last week—only their second loss in franchise history—with a practically complete lineup this time around.
NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez, however, said that chemistry remains an issue for the star-studded team.
San Sebastian’s triumvirate of Calvin Abueva, Ronald Pascual and Ian Sangalang returned to the lineup while Sinag Pilipinas members RR Garcia, Dave Marcelo, Cliff Hodge and Chris Ellis are playing their second game back from their gold medal conquest in the Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta. Only Garvo Lanete missed the game due to a shoulder injury.
“We still have a lot of concerns especially on chemistry and execution. I’m happy that we won but our defense is still a question,” said Fernandez.
Ellis topscored for NLEX with 18 points as he led the Road Warriors pull away in the third quarter.
Cobra Energy Drink was within distance only trailing by six points at the half, 36-30. Ellis, however, capped off a 9-2 run with a two-hand slam increasing the NLEX lead to 13 points, 45-32.
A running shot by Ellis early in the fourth period hiked NLEX’s edge to 18 points, 61-43, which Cobra could not recover.
Josan Nimes contributed 21 points and Jon Sumido added 15 for Cobra, which remained winless in six matches.
Fernandez has concerns about next Monday’s game against Blackwater due to the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL).
“If San Sebastian and San Beda arrange a match-up on Monday (in the PCCL) we could be without Ian Sangalang, Calvin Abueva, Ronald Pascual and Dave Marcelo,” he noted.
The scores:
NLEX 81—Ellis 18, Garcia 12, Hodge 11, Pascual 9, Monfort 8, Sangalang 7, Abueva 7, Co 7, Dehesa 3, Marcelo 0, Belencion 0.
COBRA 65—Nimes 21, Sumido 15, Noble 12, Ko 6, Flores 4, Casajeros 3, Duran 2, Tagarda 0, Stevens 0, Zablan 0, Cubo 0.
Quarters: 22-14, 36-30, 54-43, 81-65.
Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/nlex-regains-winning-form-with-win-over-cobra
