NLEX started its PBA 48th Season Philippine Cup campaign with a 107-100 overtime win over NorthPort on Friday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Robert Bolick nailed the go-ahead free throws against his former team to break a 100-100 tie, while Dave Marcelo connected on a putback to extend the lead to four with 50.2 seconds left in the extra period.
The cushion proved to be enough as the Road Warriors spoiled the return of William Navarro and the impressive PBA debut of Zavier Lucero.
Bolick finished with 31 points in his first game with the Road Warriors after being traded by the Batang Pier last December.
“It’s all about heart,” said NLEX coach Frankie Lim. “Before the game, I was talking to them about our next 12 days. We are going to have five games and it would always be nice to be on a roll and this is the start of our roll. Winning the game would give us confidence going to our next game.”
“Buti na lang we have Robert Bolick here to save the day for us,” said Lim.
Bolick took charge in the fourth quarter with 11 points including a free throw that shattered a 93-93 deadlock that was followed by an Anthony Semerad three with 31.6 seconds in regulation.
But Arvin Tolentino tied the game at 98 with a post move with 7.1 seconds that sent the game into overtime.
Enoch Valdez had 16 points, nine rebounds, and three steals, while Semerad and Sean Anthony had 15 each for NLEX.
Navarro had 12 points and 13 rebounds in his return to the Batang Pier after suffering an ACL tear in December 2022.
Lucero, meanwhile, finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks in his PBA debut after also recovering from an ACL injury he sustained during his final game with University of the Philippines in December 2022.
Tolentino had 29 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks for NorthPort.
The scores:
NLEX 107 – Bolick 31, Valdez 16, Anthony 15, Semerad 15, Pascual 9, Ular 6, Nieto 6, Marcelo 4, Miranda 3, Amer 2, Nermal 0.
NorthPort 100 – Tolentino 29, Bulanadi 19, Lucero 13, Navarro 12, Munzon 8, Zamar 6, Calma 4, Flores 4, Rosales 2, Chan 2, Paraiso 1, Yu 0, Cuntapay 0.
Quarters: 29-25; 55-50; 74-72; 98-98; 107-100.
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