Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
    View Today
    Sun, Nov 5

    Hot-shooting NLEX runs over San Miguel in auspicious debut

    KJ McDaniels delivers late after slow start
    Dec 8, 2021
    NBA veteran KJ McDaniel enjoys a winning debut for NLEX.
    NBA veteran KJ McDaniel enjoys a winning debut for NLEX.
    PHOTO: PBA Images

    KJ McDaniels scored 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as NLEX beat San Miguel, 114-102, on Wednesday at the Ynares Sports Arena to spoil the Beermen debut of Vic Manuel and Simon Enciso in the 2021 PBA Governors’ Cup.

    The Road Warriors also drew solid performances from the locals, overcoming an 11-point second-quarter deficit to pick up the win on opening night.

    San Miguel lost in the first game since giving up Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot in two separate deals to acquire Enciso and Manuel during the break. Manuel had 17 points and seven rebounds, while Enciso was held to two points.

    Kevin Alas finishes a fastbreak with an and-one for NLEX.

    NLEX, which wore non-traditional dark yellow jerseys for their conference debut, grabbed a 52-49 lead at the half after falling behind, 39-28, before pulling away in the third behind an 11-0 blast that brought the lead to 77-64.

    The Road Warriors shot 16-of-39 from three-point distance for a 41 percent clip and capitalized on the shooting struggles of the Beermen, who only went 3 of 21 from behind the arc.

    Chris Ross out

    San Miguel also played without Chris Ross in its first game since shipping out Santos and Cabagnot, meaning only two of the Beermen's 'Death Five' were in the match.

    “This is probably the best time to play San Miguel,” said NLEX coach Yeng Guiao. “They haven’t fully gelled yet. I feel like they are still making adjustments. Malaking bagay si Arwind na wala sa kanila. Malaking bagay si Alex Cabagnot. And then Chris Ross is not with them. We are very lucky we played them in this situation.”

    ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓

    Kevin Alas and Don Trollano led the NLEX locals' attack with 12 points respectively, while Philip Paniamogan had 11 points and Jericho Cruz and JR Quinahan added 10 apiece.

    MORE FROM SPIN
    MORE FROM SPIN

      Even NLEX new guys Kris Rosales and Marion Magat got in the scoring act, contributing nine and eight apiece for the Road Warriors.

      Brandon Brown had 36 points and 10 rebounds in a losing cause for the Beermen, who even trailed by 19 points, 107-88, after 11 unanswered points by NLEX.

      The scores:

      NLEX 114 – McDaniels 27, Alas 12, Trollano 12, Paniamogan 11, Quinahan 10, Cruz 10, Rosales 9, Magat 8, Oftana 7, Semerad 5, Miranda 3.

      San Miguel 102 – Brown 36, Fajardo 20, Manuel 17, Perez 11, Lassiter 7, Romeo 6, Enciso 2, Tautuaa 2, Pessumal 1.

      Quarters: 22-28; 52-49; 86-77; 114-102.

      Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph

      Read Next
      Watch Now
      Sorry, no results found for
      NBA veteran KJ McDaniel enjoys a winning debut for NLEX.
      PHOTO: PBA Images
    • POLL

      • Quiz

        Quiz Result