MONTALBAN – NLEX survived a big scare from a hard-fighting Terrafirma side and escaped with a 101-100 win for the early solo lead in the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup on Sunday night.
The Road Warriors led by as many as 23 points in the first half, but found the Dyip close to within a point in the final 42 seconds.
READ Tenorio fires warning as Magnolia off to another poor start
Terrafirma even had the chance to steal the game with 10 seconds left after Robert Bolick missed on a four-point shot, but import Justin Strings couldn’t bank in the game-winning 3 at the final buzzer.
Import DeQuan Jones poured in 25 of his game-high 30 points in the first half for the Road Warriors, who improved to a 2-0 record under new coach Jimmy Alapag.
Despite the unbeaten record, Alapag put the blame on himself for the Road Warriors nearly losing a game where they led by as many as 90-67.
“I had to do a better job. I don’t think I did a very good job in that fourth quarter. But again we’re able to make the stops when we needed,” said the PBA great.
“We have to give a lot of credit to Terrafirma. I thought they played great.”
Schonny Winston led the NLEX locals with 13 points and Robert Bolick was the only other player in double figures for the team with 12 while dishing off a game-high seven assists.
Juami Tiongson and Maverick Ahanmisi both had 19 points for Terrafirma, which fell to an even 1-1 record after a 113-100 win over Titan Ultra in the opener.
Strings added 18 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists.
His final basket moved the Dyip to their closest at 101-100 with 42 seconds left in the game.
The scores:
NLEX (101) – Jones 30, Winston 13, Bolick 12, Alas 9, Bahio 8, Semerad 8, Gonzales 5, Valdez 4, Herndon 4, Torres 3, Rodger 3, Capulong 2, Ramirez 0, Gamboa 0, Nieto 0.
Terrafirma (100) - Ahanmisi 19, Tiongson 19, Strings 18, Bravo 9, Catapusan 9, Eriobu 7, Paraiso 6, Hanapi 6, Chiu 5, Umali 2, Mariano 0, Zaldivar 0.
Quarterscores: 32-29; 65-48; 90-67; 101-100.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
