ROBERT Bolick ignited from the outside in the first half to finish with 23 points and NLEX reached the semifinals of the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup with a 137-89 victory over Phoenix Super LPG on Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Bolick lit up from threes and fours for the Road Warriors to turn Game 3 of the best-of-five quarterfinals into a rout as early as the first half to sweep the Fuelmasters in the quarterfinals.
The win sent NLEX to its third semifinal appearance in the 12-year history of the franchise, and the first since the 2021 Governors’ Cup.
Bolick, the statistical points leader for the Best Player of the Conference, had 20 points in the first half on three fours and two threes to lead NLEX to a 78-43 halftime lead.
Bolick even nailed a late four at the close of the first quarter for a 43-21 lead.
In the semifinals, NLEX will face either Converge or Rain or Shine, the quarterfinal series of which is currently at 1-1.
“Extremely, extremely proud of our guys,” said NLEX coach Jimmy Alapag, in the semifinals in his first conference with the team.
“I’m extremely proud that not only that we’re in the semifinal, but not they get a chance to do something great,” Alapag said.
NLEX led by as many as 50 points late in the game, only for that gap to get trimmed in the final seconds.
Deonte Burton had 19 points and eight rebounds, and Schonny Winston added 19 points for NLEX.
Phoenix only led after scoring the first two points of the contest. Marcellus Earlington led the Fuelmasters in scoring with 19 points.
The scores:
NLEX 137 – Bolick 23, Winston 19, Burton 19, Alas 12, Gonzales 12, Valdez 10, Semerad 9, Herndon 9, Gamboa 7, Capulong 6, Torres 4, Marcelo 3, Bahio 2, Racal 2.
Phoenix Super LPG 89 – Earlington 19, Ballungay 16, Mamuyac 11, Tio 10, Tuffin 10, Rivero 8, Cullar 6, Perkins 3, Delos Santos 3, Ando 3.
Quarters: 43-21; 78-43; 107-71; 137-89.
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