NLEX survived TNT’s late charge to beat the reigning Philippine Cup champions, 102-100, on Wednesday in a wild game at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum - the pro league's first with fans in the stands in this pandemic.
KJ McDaniels scored 33 points and grabbed eight rebounds to torment his former team as the Road Warriors seized the solo lead in the 2021 PBA Governors’ Cup standings with an immaculate 3-0 (win-loss) record.
But to do so, the Road Warriors had to stave off a late rally by TNT led by Kelly Williams and a maze of errors in the endgame that almost put for naught a heroic stand that also showcased the steady hands of rookie Calvin Oftana.
“Ang susi sa mainit na simula ng NLEX at si KJ McDaniels,” said NLEX coach Yeng Guiao.
“Crucial points, crucial stops. Our turnovers almost killed us in the endgame. I think we had two or three turnovers, could have cost us the game but we are just happy we survived those turnovers.”
NLEX led by as much as 11 points at 34-23 and was still ahead, 101-97, in the endgame but Williams made a three-pointer to cut the deficit to one.
Wild ending
The Road Warriors turned the ball over twice but TNT failed to capitalize, coming up empty on the next possessions, and committed turnovers of its own including import McKenzie Moore's out-of-bounds violation in the dying seconds.
Don Trollano's split of his free throws hiked NLEX's lead to two, but TNT took up so much time setting up its final offense and RR Pogoy’s three-point try came after the buzzer, enabling NLEX to hack out the win before 1,480 fans at the Big Dome.
Trollano and JR Quinahan had 15 points apiece while Kevin Alas added 11 points for the Road Warriors.
Williams had 16 points including the highlight of the match, a follow-up slam off a miss by Jayson Castro that trimmed the deficit to four points, 89-85.
Moore had 15 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists, while Gab Banal had 14 points in an impressive TNT debut.
The scores:
NLEX 102 – McDaniels 33, Trollano 15, Quinahan 15, Alas 11, Oftana 10, Semerad 8, Cruz 8, Ighalo 2, Miranda 0, Rosales 0, Paniamogan 0.
TNT 100 – K. Williams 16, Moore 15, Banal 14, M. Williams 12, Erram 11, Pogoy 11, Khobuntin 9, Castro 9, Reyes 3, Heruela 0, Marcelo 0.
Quarters: 29-21; 51-46; 76-70; 102-100.
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