JIMMY Alapag put one over former coach Chot Reyes as NLEX kept its unbeaten run going in the PBA Governors' Cup, 88-83 Wednesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Road Warriors blew a 17-point lead but was poised enough to survive a huge comeback by the defending champions to notch their sixth straight win.
The game marked the first meeting between Alapag and Reyes, who worked together in the past with TNT and Gilas Pilipinas.
Import Dequan Jones topscored with 27 points and seven rebounds and mostly carried the offensive load for the Road Warriors, who were held to just 32 points in the second half including 14 in the third quarter.
Alapag remained humble even after the Road Warriors extended the franchise's record fo a best start in a conference at 6-0.
"I have to give a lot of credit to TNT and coach Chot. They have a group that played extremely hard. They kind of make the game a little sloppy with their effort and their hustle. And I think defensively, they're all super active with their five guys on the court," he said.
LJ Gonzales finished with 11 points and preserved the win after picking up a Schonny Winston steal in TNT's final play of the game and the score pegged at 87-83.
Robert Bolick was the other NLEX player in double figures with 10 points, while adding five rebounds and five assists.
TNT was led by Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson with 22 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and five steals, but not enough to prevent the reigning champions from absorbing its third loss in six outings after winning their previous two games.
Rey Nambatac, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, and Glenn Khobuntin all had 13 for the Tropang 5G, who were without injured players Jordan Heading, Roger Pogoy, and Jayson Castro.
The scores
NLEX 88 -- Jones 27, Gonzales 11, Bolick 10, Winston 9, Bahio 9, Valdez 9, Alas 5, Gamboa 4, Semerad 3, Racal 1, Nelle 0, Capulong 0.
TNT 83 --Hollis-Jefferson 22, Nambatac 13, Khobuntin 13, Ganuelas-Rosser 13, Aurin 9, Enciso 6, Ferrer 3, Erram 3, Varilla 2, Quitevis 0, Jalalon 0.
Quarters: 26-18; 56-41; 70-65; 88-83.
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