NLEX got back on track in the PBA On Tour after snapping Converge’s mini two-game winning streak, 112-104, Friday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Ben Adamos and Sean Anthony nailed the final blows as the Road Warriors weathered a late-game storm that saw the FiberXers knock within just four after being down by 14 points with about five minutes left to play.
Head coach Frankie Lim would’ve wanted a better finish but he’s nonetheless glad that his wards came out with the win – their fourth in the preseason (4-5).
“Hindi ka pwede magtapon ng bola ng ganun, Parang may fiesta,” he quipped. “Happy ako sa effort nila, sa pinakita nila. OK naman sila.”
Don Trollano led NLEX with 26 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Kevin Alas had 25 points while Anthony finished with a 23-7-6 stat line.
Tony Semerad supplied 16 markers on three triples as the veteran bruiser finally recovered from a shoulder injury that kept him out for some time.
“We played very well. I think mas maraming positives ngayon more than the negatives. Kaya lang kailangan, under control kami,” said Lim, whose team unloaded a 17-0 run abridging the first two quarters to take the lead for good.
The Road Warriors are now headed into their last two games of the On Tour, first against TNT on July 26 at the FilOIl EcoOil Centre in San Juan and then versus Ginebra on July 30 at Ynares-Pasig in the final offering of the tourney.
Jolo Mendoza led Converge with 23 points, including nine in the final period alone as he sparked his side’s comeback attempt late in the game.
He scored six of their 8-0 run that got the FiberXers to within 104-108 with 1:35 remaining in the game, but Adamos was able to snap the run quickly with an underbasket stab to give NLEX a six-point breathing room.
The Road Warriors then came up with a key stop, leading to an unmolested bucket from Anthony for the eventual final score with 57.9 seconds left.
Mike Nieto supplied 19 points and six rebounds. Kevin Racal made 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Alec Stockton and Justin Arana added 10 markers apiece for Converge, who fell to 5-5 following the defeat.
Coach Aldin Ayo and his crew will try to end their On Tour campaign with a win versus NorthPort next Friday, July 28, 7:30 also at Ynares-Pasig.
The Scores:
NLEX 112 – Trollano 26, Alas 25, Anthony 23, Semerad 16, Doliguez 8, Paniamogan 6, Adamos 5, Nieto 3, Pascual 0, Guissani 0.
Converge 104 – Mendoza 23, Nieto 19, Racal 18, Arana 10, Stockton 10, Ambohot 7, Luib 5, , Guinto 5, Zaldivar 3, Teng 2, Wong 2.
Quarterscores: 26-15, 56-45, 84-80, 112-104
