NLEX kept the lead in Group A of the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup after beating Titan Ultra, 147-115, on Wednesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The game was tied at the half, but the Road Warriors suddenly roared in the third with 37 big points for a 102-79 lead entering the fourth. The team didn’t look back, winning their second game in a row since the conference resumed.
Coach Jimmy Alapag and his men improved to 9-2 with the win, and will look to clinch the no. 1 spot in the pool when they take on San Miguel next Wednesday, October 21, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, set for a 7:30 PM tip-off.
It will be a battle for the top seed, with the Beermen coming into the bout with an 8-3 record following a 135-105 rout of Terrafirma earlier in the night.
SMB will have to beat NLEX by 15 points or more in order to claim pole position after losing in their first-round encounter, 110-96.
(C) PBA Images
“It’s one of the best games that you can play before the playoffs,” Alapag said. “Kasi you’re playing against a champion team, a team that’s dominated in the PBA for quite some time. It will be a great test for our guys.
“Thankfully, we have a week to prepare. The staff and I will watch film and get ready for next week,” the former league MVP turned mentor added.
Deonte Burton top-scored for the Road Warriors with 21 points, together with nine rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and two blocks for a full line.
Robert Bolick supplied 20 points, five rebounds, and eight assists. Kevin Alas had 19 points to lead the bench mob, where the majority of the double-digit scorers came from — LJ Gonzales (17), Robbie Herndon (16), and Xyrus Torres (12).
(C) PBA Images
The Giant Risers, on the other hand, were led by the game-high 33 points of Joshua Munzon in the loss, which was already their fourth straight.
Tirrell Brown backed him up with 29 points and eight rebounds. Aris Dionisio added 16 for the cellar dwellers, who were actually giving NLEX some fight, especially in the first half, as they entered the break in a 65-all deadlock.
NLEX did manage to overcome such a difficult start, but Alapag — even if his men took care of business eventually — felt far from satisfied. He wanted the Road Warriors to shift into playoff mode with the quarterfinals drawing closer.
“It’s important for our team to understand what we’re preparing for. Kasi, we know we’re in the quarterfinals; we don’t know who we’re playing yet. But we know that whoever it is, it will be a playoff-contending team,” he warned.
“Kailangan, ‘yung mindset and ‘yung effort namin, should be in a playoff-type effort, and I don’t think that was the case in the first half,” the 48-year-old bench tactician added. “I made it clear to our guys that I was not happy.”
Titan Ultra will finish its first season in the league against Terrafirma in a meeting between early vacationers this Saturday, October 17, in Antipolo as well.
The Scores:
NLEX 147 – Burton 21, Bolick 20, Alas 19, Gonzales 17, Herndon 16, Torres 12, Winston 9, Semerad 9, Rodger 6, Marcelo 4, Bahio 3, Capulong 3, Gamboa 2, Racal 0, Nieto 0.
Titan Ultra 115 – Munson 33, Brown 29, Dionisio 16, Javillonar 9, Yu 7, Garcia 6, Inigo 6, Caralipio 3, Ular 2, Omega 2, Amores 2, Deles 0, Wong 0, Pessumal 0.
Quarterscores: 22-27, 65-65, 102-79, 147-115.
