ANTIPOLO - Robert Bolick nailed a game-tying four-point shot with 2.2 seconds left before NLEX pulled off a gutsy 118-111 overtime win over TNT on Tuesday night at the Ynares Center.
Bolick forced overtime with a difficult four over Rey Nambatac and in front of the TNT bench to tie the game at 107-107.
Ljay Gonzales later preserved Bolick’s effort with crucial baskets in the extra sesson to send NLEX to a 7-1 win-loss record to stay in first place in Group A.
READ: Dequan Jones suffers horror injury: 'That's tough to look at'
NLEX played all-Filipino for most of the second half and the entire overtime after import DeQuan Jones suffered a gruesome injury during the 7:27 mark of the third, suspected to be a complete fracture in his right leg.
NLEX coach Jimmy Alapag admitted it was still a gloomy feeling winning the game with the injury of Jones.
“I’m so proud of my guys. I told them when DJ (Jones) went down, the best thing that we can do to just honor what he means to this team is to come out and fight the rest of the game,” Alapag said.
“It was a lost game. But Berto, he’s been an elite point guard in this league for a long time. It’s been great to see his growth through these first eight games. And he hits a big time shot. Ljay was huge down the stretch,” he added.
Bolick had 27 points, eight assists, two steals and two blocks for NLEX, which was down 100-95, in regulation before his heroics.
Gonzales picked up the slack to score six of his 26 points in overtime where NLEX outscored TNT, 11-4, in the extra session.
Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson finished with 30 points and 13 rebounds, while Rey Nambatac added 28 points for TNT, which is now tied with Converge at third place in the standings of Group A.
The scores:
NLEX 118 – Bolick 27, Gonzales 26, Jones 23, Winston 11, Bahio 11, Semerad 8, Alas 5, Gamboa 3, Valdez 2, Racal 2, Torres 0, Nelle 0.
TNT 111 – Hollis-Jefferson 30, Nambatac 28, Heading 17, Pogoy 15, Ganuelas-Rosser 15, Aurin 15, Ferrer 5, Quitevis 1, Khobuntin 0, Varilla 0, Erram 0, Galinato 0, Jalalon 0.
Quarters: 31-22; 60-53; 85-79; 107-107; 118-111.
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