NLEX core ready for more titles in D-League

MANILA—With the core of its roster returning for another tour of duty, the NLEX Road Warriors looked poised for another successful title run in the next PBA D-League tournament late this year.

The Road Warriors swept the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems in their best-of-three championship series, clinching the crown with a thrilling 61-59 triumph Thursday at the Ynares Arena.

“The players will be focusing on the collegiate league, others will be taking a break; but we will be back for another shot at the title,” NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez vowed.

Although some of their players are already eligible for the draft, majority in the team are expected to remain.

Calvin Abueva, who narrowly lost to Cebuana Lhuillier’s Allein Maliksi in the Most Valuable Player race, sweet-shooting forward Ronald Pascual and center Ian Sangalang will be back.

Executing a play which Fernandez said they have ran in practice so many times in the past months, Pascual buried the game-winning shot—a long jumper from the corner—at the buzzer to lift the Road Warriors in Game 2 after the Gems tied the game at 59 with eight tenths of a second remaining.

For now, though, Abueva, Pascual and Sangalang will be shifting their focus on the San Sebastian Stags’ campaign in the NCAA which starts in a couple of weeks.

Filipino-Americans Cliff Hodge, a hardworking big man, and Chris Ellis, who emerged as among the crowd favorites because of his slam dunks, are also returning as they remain ineligible for the PBA Draft because of the league’s residency rule for Fil-Ams.

The Road Warriors however could lose Pamboy Raymundo and Eric Salamat, who could make themselves available for the draft in August.

Raymundo directed the plays for the Road Warriors in crunchtime in Game 2 with Salamat out for the game because of a sprained ankle he sustained in the opening minutes.

“We wanted to win it for Eric because we may never know if he will be back for Game 3,” said Fernandez, who is also an assistant coach for the Meralco Bolts in the PBA.

The title was also redemption of sorts for Fernandez, a champion coach with Sta. Lucia in the PBA, who suffered a winless season when he coached the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in the UAAP last season.

“It’s a great feeling to be a champion again,” said Fernandez, a heady point guard during his heydays who steered the Realtors to the All-Filipino title in 2008.

“I never regretted anything that happened to me while coaching UP. I’m just thankful for all the lessons I have learned. I’m thankful for the opportunity the management of NLEX and Meralco gave me.”

Cedelf Tupas, Inquirer.net