ANTIPOLO — NLEX finished strong to send Blackwater spiraling further, 99-88, to notch its third successive win and take the provisional lead in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup, Wednesday evening at the Ynares Center here.
The Road Warriors saw their 15-point lead become just three during the third but collectively restored order in the final frame, with Robert Bolick knocking down a triple to push their lead back to 12 at 90-78 with 4:13 remaining.
Dominick Fajardo, Xyrus Torres, and Kevin Alas would come in to contribute afterward with hits of their own for the finishing touches before the crew came away with the 11-point victory–and rose to 4-1 atop the standings.
For now, they’ve broken out of the erstwhile five-way logjam at no. 1, leaving TNT, Magnolia, Rain or Shine, and Converge all tied at second, although that may change depending on the Tropang 5G’s meeting versus Meralco later.
(C) PBA Images
“Nakakahinga ng konti. Pero after this game, sunud-sunod na ‘yung laro. Konti lang prep time so kailangan focus kami lahat,” said head coach Jong Uichico.
JB Bahio starred for NLEX with a career-high 23 points alongside six rebounds. Torres shot a pair of triples and scored 18 points, while Bolick notched a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds, which he laced with five assists.
Kevin Alas chipped in 13 markers for the Road Warriors, who will next face Barangay Ginebra on Sunday, November 2, still at the Ynares Center here.
“Alam namin na malalakas pa rin ‘yung kalaban going down the stretch, so nanalo kami ngayon so tapos na ‘to, kailangan we look to the next game,” Uichico said. “Tapos na ‘to eh, nanalo na, so we look to the next game na.”
(C) PBA Images
Leading Blackwater, on the other hand, was Sedrick Barefield with 19 points alongside seven rebounds and five assists in the defeat, which is now their third straight after opening their season with a 107-87 rout of Terrafirma.
Rookie Dalph Panopio was his lone backup with 12 points as lead forward Christian David got held to just nine points on 4-of-12 shooting.
The Bossing will take on Titan Ultra next Wednesday, November 5, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in a clash between teams in the midst of losing skids.
The Scores:
NLEX 99 – Bahio 23, Torres 18, Bolick 15, Alas 13, Ramirez 9, Rodger 9, Mocon 6, Nieto 2, Herndon 2, Policarpio 0, Semerad 0, Fajardo 0.
Blackwater 88 – Barefield 19, Ponopio 12, Tratter 9, David 9, Mallilin 7, Cruz-Dumont 6, Escoto 6, Murrell 6, Guinto 5, Mendoza 3, Zamar 3, Andrade 3.
Quarterscores: 27-21, 47-37, 71-66, 99-88.
