NLEX escaped Terrafirma, 95-85, on Saturday to regain its winning ways in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Road Warriors led by as many as 18 points, but had to deal with yet another fourth-quarter comeback by the Dyip.
Robert Bolick, however, ended Terrafirma's hopes with a four-point shot for a 95-85 lead with 53.8 seconds.
The Road Warriors limited Terrafirma to just nine points in the third on its way to the win to improve its record to 7-2 win-loss.
NLEX also booked a quarterfinal berth with the victory, with the Terrafirma loss also enabling Rain or Shine to also clinch a ticket to the playoffs.
But coach Jong Uichico didn't like how his team nearly squandered their lead after Terrafirma went on an 11-0 run after posting their biggest lead at 82-64.
Terrafirma even led, 42-27, late in the second quarter, and had a 47-36 halftime advantage.
“When you are playing teams like Terrafirma, their effort is a hundred percent every single game. They don't care where their standing is. Basta pagpasok nila sa laro, their goal is to win and do their very best that's why we can't take these teams lightly,” said Uichico.
Bolick finished with 20 points, including 13 in that third quarter where NLEX scored 34 points. Ljay Gonzales and JB Bahio each had 16 points, and Cady Lalanne had modest numbers of 15 points and 12 rebounds.
The Dyip recorded their sixth consecutive loss to go down to 3-6, with Converge now with them in the team standings.
The scores:
NLEX 95 - Bolick 20, Gonzales 16, Bahio 16, Lalanne 15, Semerad 14, Winston 4, Ramirez 4, Rodger 3, Racal 3, Torres 0, Herndon 0.
Terrafirma 85 – M. Ahanmisi 22, J. Ahanmisi 13, Ali 11, Zaldivar 10, Bravo 9, Chiu 9, Paraiso 6, Umali 3, Garcia 2, Hanapi 0, Eriobu 0, Hernandez 0.
Quarters: 18-23; 36-47; 70-56; 95-85.
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