NLEX finally entered the win column of the PBA On Tour after thrashing Phoenix Super LPG, 112-95, on Friday evening at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Sean Anthony dazzled with a triple-double of 22 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists, while Ben Adamos made five triples to finish with a game-high 27 points along with 10 rebounds and three blocks.
The Road Warriors broke away in a tight 28-24 affair with a monster second quarter that saw them outscore the Fuel Masters, 35-16, for a 63-40 halftime lead.
NLEX then followed it up with another 30-point effort, 34-22, to establish a 35-point margin heading into the fourth period, 97-62.
“Maganda yung dinipensa namin nung first half. Maganda din ang field goal namin. Malaking bagay kaya kami nakalayo,” said NLEX head coach Frankie Lim.
The Road Warriors rose to 1-3 while sending the Fuel Masters to their second-straight loss at 2-2, creating a four-way logjam with San Miguel, Northport, and Blackwater.
NLEX’s Dominick Fajardo added 17 points while Don Trollano and Hesed Gabo delivered 14 and 11 points, respectively.
NLEX will aim for back-to-back wins next Friday against Terrafirma at the same venue.
Phoenix, on the other hand, will try to break its skid on Wednesday against Ginebra.
Larry Muyang led the Fuel Masters with 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Jayjay Alejandro and Sean Manganti produced 17 and 16 points, respectively, with the former also making nine rebounds and seven assists.
The Scores:
NLEX 112 – Adamos 27, Anthony 22, Fajardo 17, Trollano 14, Gabo 11, Galanza 8, Pascual 7, Doliguez 3, Alas 3
Phoenix Super LPG 95 – Muyang 21, Alejandro 17, Manganti 16, Soyud 13, Lalata 7, Celda 7, Atienza 5, Jazul 5, Rangel 2, Tio 0
Quarterscores: 28-24, 63-40, 97-62, 112-95
