Behind the heroics of Kiefer Ravena and multiple Road Warriors, NLEX came back from 28 points down to disappoint the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in overtime, 113-111, in the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup Sunday morning (Manila time) at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
Back-to-back treys by Philip Paniamogan and Jericho Cruz in the final 50.5 ticks turned a 111-107 deficit around. Those were the finishing touches that completed the Road Warriors’ improbable comeback.
The rally seemed almost impossible to pull off, but NLEX slowly chipped the deficit away. Kiefer Ravena then pulled up at the top of the arc and nailed the trey as time expired to send the game into OT.
The Road Warriors have made the biggest comeback since the San Miguel Beermen came from 29 points down to beat Rain or Shine in Game Two of the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.
NLEX also successfully avenged their loss to SMB on Saturday, also in Dubai, and hike their win-loss record to 4-1.
Import Olu Ashaolu topscored the Road Warriors with 25 points, along with seven rebounds and three assists. It was a much better outing for him scoring-wise, as he only had 11 versus the Beermen.
Poy Erram produced 21 points, five rebounds, two steals, and two blocks, while Paniamogan supplied 20 points built on six triples. Jericho Cruz provided 13 points, four boards, and four dimes.
Ravena also made 13 points and dished out a career-high 17 assists, the last of which led to Cruz’s triple that capped off the Road Warriors’ fightback. He also hauled down seven caroms.
Import Justin Brownlee led the Gin Kings with a triple-double of 46 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Greg Slaughter and Stanley Pringle had 19 points apiece while LA Tenorio chimed in 12 markers.
The Barangay had chances to tie the game to force another OT but they missed three of their shots. Ginebra absorbed their second loss in a row and had dropped to 1-2 in the standings.
NLEX will next face the Columbian Dyip (2-2) on October 16 at Ynares Center in Antipolo. Meanwhile, Ginebra will play the San Miguel Beermen (3-0) on October 13, Sunday, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
NLEX 113 – Ashaolu 25, Erram 21, Paniamogan 20, Cruz 13, Ravena 13, Quinahan 9, Ighalo 5, Varilla 3, Galanza 2, Fonacier 2, Taulava 0, Miranda 0.
Ginebra 111 – Brownlee 42, Slaughter 19, Pringle 19, Tenorio 12, J. Aguilar 9, Caguioa 4, Dela Cruz 4, Thompson 2, Caperal 0.
Quarterscores: 22-29; 39-59; 72-86; 103-103; 113-111.
