ANTIPOLO – NLEX erected another early big lead, but maintained it in the end this time around, beating Blackwater, 107-95, on Saturday in the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center.
The Road Warriors opened the game with a 20-8 lead, and never looked back, just two days after they lost a 16-point advantage in their conference opener against NorthPort.
NLEX evened its record with a 1-1 win-loss record, while Blackwater, playing without rookie Sedrick Barefield, fell to 0-2.
Robert Bolick had 23 points and 10 assists, making up for his cold 1-for-11 shooting from the field against the Batang Pier.
NLEX coach Jong Uichico said the message to his players before the game was simple.
“Just don’t play like we play the other game. It’s as simple as that. It was embarrassing, the game we played,” said Uichico.
Michael Griffin-Watkins also had a huge outing by scoring 26 points and grabbing 25 rebounds for NLEX. He also had three shot blocks.
Richie Roger added 14 points, while Xyrus Torres and Enoch Valdez had 12 and 11 respectively for the Road Warriors.
Back-to-bac threes by Tony Semerad from the left corner padded NLEX’s lead to its highest at 100-80 with 4:53 left in the game.
George King had 40 points and eight rebounds, but once again had little support from his teammates. Justin Chua added 13 points, the lone double digit scorer for Blackwater.
The scores:
NLEX 107 – Griffin-Watkins 26, Bolick 23, Rodger 14, Torres 12, Valdez 11, Semerad 8, Amer 6, Herndon 3, Bahio 2, Mocon 2, Policarpio 0, Nermal 0.
Blackwater 95 – King 40, Chua 13, Tungcab 8, Kwekuteye 8, David 8, Montalbo 8, Ilagan 5, Escoto 5, Guinto 0, Jopia 0, Ponferada 0, Suerte 0, Hill 0.
Quarters: 22-17; 53-46; 81-69; 107-95.
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