NLEX flaunted its offensive firepower to take down Phoenix Super LPG, 120-102, on Sunday in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Cady Lalanne and Robert Bolick led five players in double digits to lift the Road Warriors to their second straight win and fourth in five games overall.
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Schonny Winston set the tone for the Road Warriors in their biggest scoring output of the conference while Kevin Alas finished off Phoenix with 18 fourth-quarter points.
Lalanne had 29 points and 10 rebounds, Bolick had 22 points and 14 assists, while Alas' 18 points included a five-point play with 8:07 remaining that broke the game wide open, 94-79.
Winston scored 11 of his 16 points in the first quarter to help NLEX grab a 33-17 lead at the end of the period. Tony Semerad also scored in double digits with 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting from threes, while also grabbing nine rebounds.
“It showed in the game na they shared the ball,” said NLEX coach Jong Uichico on the collective effort of the squad. “Their defense is still average but they shared the ball, they know who to go to. That's through practice where nagbibigayan sila sa isa't isa. Kung sino ang mainit, eh di yun ang bibigyan ng bola.”
Phoenix Super LPG dropped to 2-2 after falling behind by as many as 21 points and only led when it scored the first two points of the contest.
Ricci Rivero had 20 points, half of his 40-point output in their previous game against Terrafirma. Import James Dickey was limited to only 13 points.
The scores:
NLEX 120 – Lalanne 29, Bolick 22, Alas 18, Winston 16, Semerad 15, Bahio 6, Rodger 6, Ramirez 3, Torres 3, Herndon 2, Gonzales 0, Racal 0, Fajardo 0, Capulong 0.
Phoenix Super LPG 102 – Rivero 20, Perkins 18, Tuffin 14, Dickey 13, Tio 9, Escandor 9, Nelle 5, Santos 5, Caperal 3, Daves 2, Delos Santos 2, Cullar 2.
Quarters: 33-17; 52-42; 79-72; 120-102.
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