NLEX leaned on another big three-pointer down the stretch to stave off Magnolia, 112-105, and post back-to-back wins in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center II in Montalban, Sunday night.
After knocking down a crucial trey to eventually beat Blackwater last Friday, Robert Bolick was a willing passer this time around and dished it to Deschon Winston for a corner trey to push their lead to 111-103 with 47.3 seconds left.
Jerom Lastimosa tried to will the Hotshots back after scoring off a foul moments later, but that wasn’t enough as they fell to 0-2 while the other team completed its comeback from 13 down to join Phoenix and Terrafirma atop the standings.
“It was a great comeback by us at the end of the first half. Nakabalik kami sa laro kasi maganda ‘yung intensity na ipinakita,” said Coach Jong Uichico. “Kasi ang bigat talaga kalaban ng Magnolia. Ang lalaki, tsaka maganda ang sistema.”
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Seven players finished in twin digits for NLEX, with Cady Lalanne leading the pack once more with 24 points and 11 rebounds plus three blocks.
Bolick, Winston, and JB Bahio supplied 14 points apiece, with the backcourt tandem combining for 11 rebounds and the same number of assists.
LJ Gonzales made 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals as the rookie playmaker eventually earned Player of the Game honors.
Kevin Alas delivered 13 points as well, including a key four-pointer from the left wing to give themselves a 97-91 cushion with 7:11 to spare in the fourth quarter that then made it all the more difficult for the opposition to catch up.
Tony Semerad chipped in 11 points, spiked by three triples, in the victory that saw the crew finish with a total of 12 stocks (nine steals and three blocks).
Magnolia, on the other hand, was led by Nuni Omot, who’s seemingly getting his flow back with 32 points alongside nine rebounds and six assists.
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Lastimosa made 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting on top of two rebounds and four assists. Rome Dela Rosa made 17 points while Zav Lucero finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds, plus three assists, a steal, and a block.
It was yet another well-spread attack for Coach LA Tenorio’s wards, but they couldn’t sustain control of the match after leading by 56-43 late in the second.
And they appeared to have regressed as compared to their conference debut against Phoenix, as they couldn’t put together a furious endgame rally.
They did manage to cut the gap to one possession, 100-104, but Lalanne was there to keep them at bay by manufacturing four straight points, and then came Winston’s heavy triple that practically sealed the deal for NLEX.
Eventually, the Hotshots would suffer their second loss in as many outings, marking the first time since the Season 47 Governors’ Cup that it started a conference at 0-2, according to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III.
Both teams will return to action next Sunday, March 22, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. Magnolia will open the double-header versus Blackwater at 5:15 p.m. before NLEX faces Bol Bol and TNT at the 7:30 p.m. nightcap.
The Scores:
NLEX 112 – Lalanne 24, Bahio 14, Winston 14, Bolick 14, Alas 13, Gonzales 13, Semerad 11, Torres 3, Fajardo 3, Racal 3, Herndon 0.
Magnolia 105 – Omot 32, Lastimosa 23, Dela Rosa 17, Lucero 16, Laput 6, Lee 4, Barroca 3, Andrada 2, Alfaro 2, Gomez de Liano 0, Koon 0, Sangalang 0, Escoto 0.
Quarterscores: 27-26, 57-59, 82-80, 112-105.
