NLEX outlasted a dejected Barangay Ginebra in overtime through a 103-99 decision to secure the last quarterfinal ticket in Group B of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup, Sunday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Tony Semerad and DeQuan Jones nailed big treys, before Robert Bolick and Ritchie Rodger connected on a smart play as the Road Warriors used an 11-7 spurt to save themselves after losing an 82-75 lead late in regulation.
“We just wanted to keep the game within striking distance. We had control of the regulation period but they made big plays, and we missed some shots. That’s just the way the game is,” offered head coach Jong Uichico.
“And then in the overtime, we made big stops, I think, and we made big shots also,” added the champion mentor, whose team finished with a 5-5 card.
Jones showed the way with a game-best 44 points and 10 rebounds, including 33 in the third and fourth quarters as he overcame early foul trouble.
Bolick came close again to a triple-double as he finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists. Semerad, meanwhile, went 4-of-10 from beyond the arc for 12 points, which he laced with six rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
Enoch Valdez (eight points), Jonnel Policarpio (eight rebounds), and Javee Mocon (10 rebounds) also made significant contributions in the crucial win.
With the upset, NLEX finished as the fourth seed of Group B and is bound to meet TNT, the top team of Group A, in the best-of-5 quarterfinals.
Finishing as the no. 3 seed in Group B, on the other hand, is Ginebra, who had to close the game without Justin Brownlee due to cramps.
The three-time Best Import was responsible for pulling the Kings back into the game from the aforementioned seven-point deficit with 2:14 to go in regulation.
He scored the last four of their 7-0 run to tie it up at 92-all with 32.3 ticks left.
Unfortunately, he suddenly was in pain during OT. The 36-year-old had to be subbed out at the 3:36-mark, never to check back in.
Brownlee left with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists as his exit doomed the Barangay’s comeback hopes. They finished the group stage at 6-4.
Coach Tim Cone and Co. also lost Japeth Aguilar for a while during the third after being hit inadvertently upon trying to contest Semerad’s shot. He returned before the frame ended and went on to finish with 22 points and nine boards.
Maverick Ahanmisi had 15 points and seven rebounds, while the backcourt duo of RJ Abarrientos and Scottie Thompson added 14 and 12 in the loss.
Ginebra is set to face the second-seed of Group A in Meralco in the quarters in an early Governors’ Cup playoff series between the bitter rivals.
The Scores:
NLEX 103 – Jones 44, Bolick 16, Semerad 12, Valdez 8, Policarpio 6, Torres 6, Amer 4, Mocon 3, Rodger 2, Miranda 2.
Ginebra 99 – Brownlee 26, J.Aguilar 22, Ahanmisi 15, Abarrientos 14, Thompson 12, Holt 7, Pinto 3, Cu 0, Adamos 0, Tenorio 0, R. Aguilar 0.
Quarterscores: 26-21, 39-43, 71-68, 92-92, 103-99.
