Jericho Cruz provided the spark while Tony Mitchell provided the finish to lift the NLEX Road Warriors to the win column in the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
NLEX needed to avert a monumental collapse at the hands of the Meralco Bolts, 100-91, Wednesday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Road Warriors nearly blew a 23-point in the third canto, as the Bolts rallied fiercely and knocked within four, 87-91, with 5:28 left to play. Fortunately, Tony Mitchell, JR Quiñahan, and Jericho Cruz stepped up to save their side.
NLEX improved to 1-6.
“We’ve been waiting for this for quite a long time,” said head coach Yeng Guiao. “We were 0-6 before this game. So 1-6 now. We have four games left. Of course, there’s still a mathematical chance that we can make the next round.
“Kahit papaano, that’s something for us to chase. But of course, the probabilities or the possibility is not that good. But again, we’d like to look at our chances as something to motivate us still even at this point,” added Guiao.
Mitchell powered NLEX with 32 points, 20 rebounds, four assists, and a block in nearly 37 minutes of action.
Cruz seems to have meshed well with the Road Warriors in just his second game with his new team, with 16 points, six assists, three rebounds, and a steal coming off the bench. Bong Galanza chimed in 13 markers.
Import Gani Lawal – whom Meralco reactivated after missing a game due to a hamstring injury – had 15 points, 14 rebounds, and a steal.
The Bolts have absorbed their third consecutive defeat and have fallen to 3-5.
Nico Salva and Chris Newsome had 14 points apiece, while Baser Amer chipped in 13 points in the defeat.
The Scores:
NLEX 100 – Mitchell 32, Cruz 16, Galanza 13, Paniamogan 8, Quinahan 7, Erram 7, Ighalo 6, Varilla 4, Lao 4, Tiongson 3, Paredes 0, Soyud 0.
Meralco 91 – Lawal 15, Newsome 14, Salva 14, Amer 13, Canaleta 10, Jackson 6, Pinto 6, Almazan 5, Caram 4, Faundo 2, Hodge 2, Hugnatan 0, Quinto 0.
Quarterscores: 27-25, 56-49, 85-70, 100-91
