NLEX notched a second straight win in the PBA On Tour after subduing TNT, 97-84, Wednesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
NLEX vs TNT PBA On Tour recap
The Road Warriors bucked a bad start by coming alive in the third quarter to turn the game around and clinch their fifth win in 10 outings.
The returning Tony Semerad made the comeback possible scoring 16 of his team-high 23 points in the third period.
"Bad start, e. Ang lambot," offered Frankie Lim about the Road Warriors staring at a 20-point deficit after the first quarter and 39-17 early in the second.
"I just asked the players to be patient and stick to what we're doing, and unti-unti naman nakahabol."
The Road Warriors were back in the game by halftime, cutting down the deficit to just 45-41.
Came the second half, and Semerad took over.
The forward out of San Beda began hitting his strides and finish shooting 5-of-10 from three-point range.
He joined hands with Sean Anthony and Clint Doliguez during that telling run in the third quarter, which ended with NLEX already on top, 74-68.
Doliguez added 16, same with Don Trollano who also had six rebounds, and seven assists, Kevin Alas with 14, and Anthony with 11.
Matt Nieto finished with a game-high 14 assists for NLEX, which had a surprise visitors in former Road Warrior Kiefer Ravena and and fellow national team member Rhenz Abando.
TNT suffered a second straight loss and fell to 1-9 in the standings.
Carl Bryan Cruz hit 7-of-14 from beyond the arc for a game-high 26 points.
The scores:
NLEX (97) - Semerad 23, Doliguez 16, Trollano 16, Alas 14, Anthony 11, Nieto 6, Pascual 4, Giussani 3, Paniamogan 2, Adamos 2.
TNT (84) - Cruz 26, Khobuntin 24, Tungcab 12, Jopia 6, Marcelo 5, Varilla 3, Reyes 3, Heruela 3, Montalbo 2, Cuntapay 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0.
Quarterscores: 17-37; 41-45; 74-68; 97-84.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
