PBA D-League: NLEX beats Freego to win second crown

NLEX did not risk a do-or-die situation and beat Freego Jeans, 89-75, to sweep the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup best-of-three Finals Series on Tuesday at the San Juan Arena. The Road Warriors outclassed the Jeans Makers, 75-51, in Game One of the title series last Thursday. "Last year, it was Ronald Pascual who won for us the game with his buzzer-beater. But everybody played well. I give credit to all of my players," said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez. Freego, behind Eric Camson's 13 first-quarter points and Alex Nuyles' rejuvenated shooting, played solidly in the first half to take a 45-41 lead at the turn. Nuyles, who was nursing an injured right wrist and was practically invisible in Game One, broke out of his shooting slump in the second quarter. The Jeans Makers, on a Lester Alvarez four-point play, even enjoyed a 43-34 edge in the closing minutes of the second quarter. The defending D-League champions, however, finally connected from beyond the arc in the third period where they made five 3-pointers. Even power forwards Calvin Abueva and Cliff Hodge showed that they can also shoot from the outside, contributing one apiece. Camson replied with back-to-back triples to halt the Road Warriors' scoring rampage. JRU Heavy Bomber John Lopez, who made 12 points bridging the third and fourth periods, joined hands with Alvarez to help Freego's comeback attempt. But Game Two best player Chris Ellis continued with his hot shooting and even wowed the crowd with a fast break dunk. His tip-in in the closing minutes of the game gave the Road Warriors a 14-point spread, 83-69. — JVP, GMA News Scores: