NLEX sustained its unbeaten start on Saturday, defeating Converge, 119-107, in the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Road Warriors raced to their biggest lead at 19 in the first quarter, and held off the FiberXers’ comeback bid to wrest their fifth win in as many games -- allowing debuting tactician Jimmy Alapag to remain undefeated in his PBA coaching career.
DeQuan Jones and Schonny Winston were responsible for keeping their big lead on their way to staying at first place in Group A.
Converge lost for the third straight time and now has a 3-3 win-loss slate.
Jones and Winston combined for 22 points in the fourth quarter, and had baskets in a 10-0 blast after Converge came to within two, 105-103.
NLEX took the win after having a torrid shooting in the first quarter, making 63 percent of its shots on its way to a 42-23 lead late in the period.
But Alapag admitted they need to sustain their intensity from start to finish after Converge tasted the lead in the third quarter.
“I think in the second quarter, we went away from what made us successful in that first quarter. I thought their physicality (Converge) went up a notch in that second quarter. It slowed us down offensively,” Alapag said.
“I thought we went away from our ball movement… And that’s not how we play.” he added.
Jamaal Franklin had 26 points, and Mikey Williams had 18 for Converge.
The scores:
NLEX 119 – Jones 28, Winston 24, Bolick 19, Semerad 15, Alas 14, Bahio 8, Gonzales 7, Valdez 4, Gamboa 0, Capulong 0, Rodger 0.
Converge 107 – Franklin 26, Williams 18, Arana 16, Gomez de Liano 14, Baltazar 13, Stockton 11, Abueva 9, Garcia 0.
Quarters: 42-27; 63-64; 88-88; 119-107.
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