Super rookie Kiefer Ravena’s huge plays down the stretch lifted the NLEX Road Warriors to a 1-0 lead over the Alaska Aces, 105-99, in their quarterfinal series opener Monday evening at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The top-ranked neophyte dished a key assist to Michael Miranda with over 22 seconds left and converted a lay-up four seconds after that dime to help the Road Warriors inch closer to booking their first-ever semifinal trip.
Ravena had 25 points — spiked by three treys — and eight assists to lead NLEX, who now has a chance to close out the best-of-three series this Wednesday, March 7, at SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Just relieved that Game One is over,” said NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao. “The good news is we won this one. The bad news is we have to go through this again and it will be harder on Wednesday. This series is not over.”
NLEX even enjoyed an 11-point lead prior to halftime, but Alaska was too tough to contain when they rally back. The Aces eventually took the lead late in the third canto, 72-71, and from there, did their best to keep the Road Warriors at bay.
However, NLEX just couldn’t go down. The Road Warriors were able to tie the ballgame at 96-all with 2:40 left to play, when Larry Fonacier nailed a huge three-pointer and drew a foul from Calvin Abueva and made the bonus.
From there, Ravena took matters into his own hands. He was about to pull up for a perimeter jumper, but quickly dropped it to an open Miranda near the basket, who then nailed a one-hander plus a foul with 22.7 seconds remaining.
Four seconds later, Ravena sank a lay-up off a jump ball situation between Calvin Abueva and JR Quiñahan to widen NLEX’s lead to two possessions, 100-96, with 18.8 seconds to go, making things bleaker for the Aces.
Alaska still gasped with 8.8 ticks left after Simon Enciso nailed a tough three-pointer and made it 99-101, but charites by Kevin Alas and Kiefer Ravena afterwards sealed the Road Warriors’ first-ever playoff victory.
“We’re just lucky,” added the fiery tactician in the victory. “I guess the biggest play of the game is Larry’s four-point play. That’s really the crucial point in the game where we felt that we could have a chance to win it.”
Fonacier finished with 18 points and nine rebounds. Alas supplied 17 markers with six assists and five rebounds, Quiñahan chipped in 12 points and 10 caroms, and Miranda ended up with 10 markers.
Chris Banchero led the Milkmen with 20 points. Abueva finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds, and Enciso supplied 16 points on three triples.
The Scores:
NLEX 105 — Ravena 25, Fonacier 18, Alas 17, Quiñahan 12, Miranda 10, Baguio 8, Al-Hussaini 4, Soyud 4, Taulava 4, Tiongson 3, Gotladera 0, Mallari 0.
Alaska 99 — Banchero 20, Abueva 18, Enciso 16, Thoss 11, Casio 8, Magat 4, Racal 4, Teng 4, Baclao 1, Cruz 0, Exciminiano 0.
Quarterscores: 24-22, 50-40, 74-72, 105-99.
