Fight spoils Warriors win over Pacific 5

Games Tuesday (San Juan Arena) 12 p.m. – RNW Pacifc Pipes vs Boracay Rum 2 p.m. – Junior Powerade vs NLEX 4 p.m. – Café France vs Cebuana Lhuillier

NLEX outmuscled RNW Pacific Pipes in a fight-marred game, carving out a 77-63 victory to grab the early solo lead in the PBA D-league Foundation Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City yesterday.

Pacific Pipes guard Barnett Rogado fouled then punched Garvo Lanete with 6:39 left in the second period, triggering a near free-for-all. Cooler heads intervened and Rogado was slapped a Flagrant Foul Category 2 and was subsequently ejected from the game.

Lanete also drew a technical for second motion while teammates Woody Co, Eric Suguitan and Jaypee Belencion were called for Flagrant Foul Category 1 for putting up fighting stance.

Clifford Hodge scored 20 points on an impressive 7-of-9 shooting from the field and pulled down 10 rebounds, capping his dominating performance with a two-handed slam off a lob by Kirk Long that made it, 71-56, for the Road Warriors with 4:07 remaining in the game.

“It was a tough game but the players executed well and that spelled the difference,” said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez. “Pacific Pipes made things difficult for us with their defense. I’m just glad the guys stayed focus.”

NLEX played without Ian Sangalang and Calvin Abueva, who played for their school in an invitational tournament. But the rest of the Road Warriors stepped up with Lanete turning in 15 points and Long making five assists for the defending champions, who outrebounded the Steelmasters, 49-41, to post their second straight win.

Earlier, Allan Santos scored on a putback at the buzzer as Big Chill rallied to beat Café France, 74-73.

Alwyn Elinon and Rocky Acidre each scored 12 points to show the way for Pacific Pipes, which shot just 33 percent from the field (19 of 56) and missed 17 free throws.