ANTIPOLO – NLEX grabbed a 2-0 lead in the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup quarterfinals after beating Phoenix Super LPG, 124-117, on Wednesday night at the Ynares Center.
The Road Warriors went on a 9-0 run to shatter a 101-101 deadlock early in the fourth quarter to gain full control of a close Game 2 and move one win away from clinching a semifinal berth.
Game 3 is on Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium where NLEX can sweep the best-of-five playoff series after winning in a tight Game Two that saw the Road Warriors trail, 72-68, at the half.
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“I thought our first half, 72 points was way too high and a lot of credit goes to Phoenix,” said NLEX coach Jimmy Alapag.
“I thought they played extremely well in the first half, put a lot of pressure on us defensively, made shots. But I challenged our guys in the second half, there is no way we are going to win this game tonight defending that way.”
“In the second half, we gave up only 45 points instead of 72, and I thought that was the biggest difference,” said Alapag.
Deonte Burton had 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Road Warriors including a jumper that gave them a 118-111 lead.
Phoenix was still in front, 75-70, early in the third quarter - its biggest lead – but Winston had 12 points in the period to close the gap to one, 94-93, entering the final canto.
Marcellus Earlington bucked a hard fal early in the fourth to finish with 21 points, while Ricci Rivero and Kai Ballungay added 21 points apiece for Phoenix.
The scores:
NLEX 124 – Bolick 31, Winston 31, Burton 24, Alas 12, Semerad 8, Bahio 8, Valdez 4, Gonzales 4, Herndon 2, Nieto 0, Torres 0.
Phoenix Super LPG 117 – Earlington 22, Rivero 21, Ballungay 21, Mamuyac 18, Tuffin 17, Tio 15, Escandor 3, Delos Santos 0, Santos 0.
Quarters: 35-33; 68-72; 93-94; 124-117.
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