NLEX outlasted a dejected Ginebra in overtime through a 103-99 overtime decision to secure the last quarterfinal ticket in Group B of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup, Sunday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
DeQuan Jones showed the way with 44 points and 10 rebounds as he came through with the big shots down the stretch to enable the Road Warriors in stunning the Kings and, more importantly, finishing the pool stage at 5-5.
The team of Coach Jong Uichico handed the perennial contenders a bitter end to their group phase campaign but making the loss tougher to fathom for the latter is losing Justin Brownlee to an apparent injury during OT, never to return.
Brownlee had to be carried on the way to the bench, and also to the team’s locker room as a dark cloud of concern now floats above the team.
Without him, the crowd darlings gradually lost their edge as NLEX went on to seal their place in the first round of the playoffs that starts Wednesday.
