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Defending champion NLEX coasted to its third straight win, routing a hapless DUB Unlimited side, 97-62, and reinforced its quarterfinal bid in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup Friday at the Meralco gym.
Chris Ellis and RR Garcia combined for 43 points as the duo buried the Wheelers behind an avalanche of three-pointers in pulling off the lopsided victory.
Ellis topscored for 22 points, with five rebounds, three assists, and two block shots, while Garcia, the former UAAP MVP, added 21 and five assists.
Together, they combined for 10 of the Rod Warriors 11 three-pointers.
NLEX now has a 4-1 card despite missing the services of key players owing to injuries.
Garvo Lanete (shoulder), big man Dave Marcelo, and Ronald Pascual (ACL) again didn’t suit up for the defending champions.
Coach Boyet Fernandez said he expects Lanete and Marcelo to be reactivated from the injury list by next week, although Pascual remains doubtful.
“Titingnan pa namin yung line-up kung sino ang magandang ipalit pero hindi naman priority kasi baka magka-chemistry issue,” said Fernandez, who steered the team to the inaugural title earlier this year.
The Wheelers fell to 1-6 as Jeric Teng and Paul Zamar were the only players to score in double figures for them with 17 and 13 points, respectively.
The Wheelers never got a chance as the Road Warriors opened the game with nine straight unanswered points behind two three-pointers by Garcia. The quarter ended with NLEX in full control, 24-9.
And the rout was on.
The scores
NLEX (97) — Ellis 22, Garcia 21, Abueva 15, Hodge 10, Sangalang 8, Monfort 6, Taganas 6, Co 4, Suguitan 3, Dehesa 2, Belencion 0, Reyes 0.
DUB Unlimited (62) — Teng 17, Zamar 13, Aguilar 9, Gomez 6, Hugnatan 6, Bolos 4, Leynes 3, Gonzales 2, Melegrito 2, Bustos 0, Tapang 0, Maniago 0.
Quarterscores: 24-9, 49-31, 74-51, 97-62
Source: PBADLeague.com.ph
