Figuring in a slow start, Mac Tallo and the NLEX Road Warriors clawed back against CBA club team Guangzhou Long Lions. However, the Long Lions were just too overwhelming as the Road Warriors succumbed to a 63-75 loss in the 2018 Asia League Super 8 semifinals, Saturday evening at the Macao East Asian Games Dome.
Tallo led the comeback attempt with 16 points, five rebounds, three assists, and a steal off the bench.
Guangzhou pushed the pedal on the Road Warriors, leading by as much as 18 points, 39-21, during the second frame.
Tallo provided the fuel NLEX needed in the third frame as his breakaway layup sliced the lead to just two, 48-46. However, Shirelijian Muxtar gave Guangzhou an added gear in the final stanza, scoring seven points to pull away from the Filipino club team.
Cyrus Baguio added eight points while Kenneth Ighalo hauled down 11 boards.
Shirelijian had a game-high 21 markers, spiked by four triples.
NLEX will face ET Land Elephants in the battle for bronze on Sunday, July 22. During the elimination round, the Road Warriors were trampled by the Elephants, 60-75.
The Scores:
NLEX 63 – Tallo 16, Baguio 8, Tiongson 7, Ighalo 6, Quinahan 6, Taulava 6, Buenafe 4, Miranda 4, Marcelo 2, Rios 2, Soyud 2, Uyloan 0.
Guangzhou 75 – Sherilijian 21, Zheng 15, Ju 14, Guo 10, Minyang 9, Tian 3, Wang 2, Song 1, Gu 0, Heng 0, Yao 0.
Quarterscores: 26-13, 46-34, 54-50, 75-63.
