NLEX showed that not much will change whether or not Terrafirma plays with an import following a 104-85 mauling for back-to-back wins in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup, Tuesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Road Warriors went up against a team that played with an all-local lineup by choice in the second half as the Dyip brain thrust was far from satisfied with the way Ryan Richards was playing whenever he was on the floor.
As strange as it may seem, it was actually evident as they managed to put up a better fight without him, managing to cut the gap to a single digit a couple of times, especially during the fourth when they got to within seven again.
However, a Tony Semerad three-pointer off a timeout pushed NLEX’s lead back to a double-digit spread, 91-81, with less than five minutes left and it would stay that way until the final buzzer as Terrafirma could no longer keep up.
It’s also because the Dyip couldn’t find an answer to the 1-2 combo put up by Robert Bolick and Mike Watkins, as they took advantage of not having a towering presence on defense with Richards reduced as a spectator.
Bolick finished with 32 points, four rebounds, and five assists, while Watkins came through with a monster double-double of 26 and 30.
“Siyempre masaya, ang daming contributions sa locals. Pero ‘yung import talaga namin, nag-dominate sa ilalim kaya kami nalibre,” Bolick said.
Torres supplied 15 points while Tony Semerad added 13 points and seven rebounds as they gave Kevin Alas a triumphant return after over a year.
Fully recovered from the third ACL injury of his career which he suffered back in November 18 last year, Alas played for 10 minutes and scored two points.
(C) PBA Images
“He performed naman very well today,” said head coach Jong Uichico of Alas, whom he subbed in late in the first quarter. “Gusto lang namin siya i-break in. I think despite the long absence, maganda naman ipinakita niya.”
NLEX (2-1) will try to ride this wave of momentum entering its next two games versus San Miguel and Ginebra on December 8 and 11, respectively.
Top-scoring for Terrafirma, meanwhile, was Vic Manuel with 22 points, 18 of which he made in the third quarter alone where they got within 72-65.
Aljun Melecio and Kevin Ferrer added 10 markers apiece for the retooling Dyip, who fell to their third defeat in as many games.
The team will look to crush its winless spell when they face the 2-0 Meralco on Friday, December 6, 5 p.m. also at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Scores:
NLEX 104 – Bolick 32, Watkins 26, Torres 15, Semerad 13, Rodger 7, Herndon 3, Bahio 2, Fajardo 2, Valdez 2, Alas 2, Mocon 0, Amer 0, Marcelo 0.
Terrafirma 85 – Manuel 22, Melecio 10, Ferrer 10, Pringle 9, Zaldivar 7, Nonoy 6, Richards 6, Sangalang 5, Olivario 3, Catapusan 3, Hernandez 2, Paraiso 2, Ramos 0, Hanapi 0.
Quarterscores: 27-11, 51-30, 75-62, 104-85.
