NLEX, FCA triumph in PBA D-League

North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) thumped Freego Jeans, 82-71, Tuesday for a rousing start in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) D-League Foundation Cup at the Far Eastern University gym. Former San Sebastian stalwart Calvin Abueva anchored the Road Warriors with 18 points and 14 rebounds while ex-pro Ogie Menor added16 points and Clifford Hodge contributed 11 for the team's big debut win. Abueva connected for six straight points in the final moments of the first half to pad the Road Warriors' lead to 14, 41-27, at halftime. The Road Warriors led by as much as 23 points (66-43) on a three-point play by Abueva in the third period. "We experienced first-game jitters, but as the game went along, the talent showed," said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez. In the first game, FCA trounced Junior Powerade, 89-71, to also make it to the win column. Former FEU stalwart JR Gerilla finished with 17 points in leading the Cultivators, while Raffy Reyes added 15. The Cultivators pulled away in the second quarter to finish the first half with a 46-30 margin. "I expected a close game, but I'm happy that the guys really played well on defense," said FCA coach Arsenio Dysangco. Alvin Padilla and Mike Gamboa had 15 markers each for the Tigers. - Reuben Terrado, RCJ, KY, GMA News