NLEX ruled the 2025 Kadayawan Invitational Basketball Tournament after defeating Blackwater, 101-84, on Sunday in the title game at the University of Southeastern Philippines gym in Davao City.
The Road Warriors made 18 out of their 34 attempts from three-point land on their way to victory, avenging a loss to the previously unbeaten Bossing in the preliminaries of the four-team, preseason tournament.
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Xyrus Torres had 19 points while Tony Semerad chipped in 16 points and 12 rebounds, with both players collecting four threes apiece in the win that comes as a big confident boost for the Road Warriors heading to the PBA season.
Semerad won the Finals MVP award after nailing three of his three-pointers in the fourth quarter where the Road Warriors outscored the Bossing, 27-19.
Blackwater should also be happy with its preseason campaign, having swept the preliminaries of the pocket tournament including a 95-90 win over NLEX in a game where it overcame a 17-point deficit.
The Road Warriors were coming off a second-place finish in the elimination round of the 49th Season Philippine Cup only to bow to Rain or Shine in the quarterfinals, while the Bossing missed the playoffs of the season-ending conference.
JB Bahio tallied 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Dominick Fajardo chipped in 10 points. Robert Bolick had eight points, six rebounds, and nine assists for the Road Warriors.
Sedrick Barefield had 15 points while Richard Escoto had 14 points for the Bossing in the championship game.
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