NLEX sprung back and added to San Miguel’s woes, 102-94, in the PBA On Tour Wednesday night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Kevin Alas and Jake Pascual helped out Clint Doliguez in the 7-0 run toward a 90-87 lead with under five minutes left to play, effectively shifting momentum in their favor to eventually complete the comeback from as much as 19 down.
“Adjustment namin, nagpalit kami ng depensa,” said head coach Frankie Lim. “But what was important was our third quarter run, yung naidikit namin.”
Dominick Fajardo top-scored for NLEX with 20 points and seven rebounds in the win — just the team’s second in six outings in the preseason tilt.
Don Trollano made 19 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Alas produced 15 points and five dimes, while Doliguez provided 13 markers.
Matt Nieto flirted with a double-double as he tallied 12 points and eight assists as Pascual chipped in 10, eight of which he made in the second half.
NLEX entered halftime staring at a 59-38 deficit and Lim’s wards buckled down to work afterwards, opening the third with 13 straight points.
The Road Warriors clearly won that period, 34-19, to trail by just four points, 73-77, entering the final chapter, eventually overtaking the Beermen.
“I also told them during halftime na let’s manage the lead, ayaw natin na mas matambakan. Dikit lang natin ng mga 10, 12 points entering the fourth, we’re okay. Maganda ‘yung run namin,” lauded Lim.
Allyn Bulanadi, on the other hand, finished with 26 points to lead the nine-man San Miguel, who absorbed its fourth straight loss and fell to 2-5.
Wasted by the defeat was the impressive 20-20 outing of Rodney Brondial with 22 points and 24 rebounds, as well as the 20-point effort of Jericho Cruz.
The Scores:
NLEX 102 – Fajardo 20, Trollano 19, Alas 15, Doliguez 13, Nieto 12, Pascual 10, Rosales 8, Anthony Adamos 4, 1, Giussani 0.
San Miguel 94 – Bulanadi 26, Brondial 22, Cruz 20, Baclao 9, Apacible 7, Faundo 7, Dela Cruz 3, De Vera 0, Lee 0.
Quarterscores: 25-20, 39-58, 73-77, 102-94
