Wayne Selden and Kevin Alas ensured that NLEX wouldn’t waste its hot start as they closed it out to beat Rain or Shine, 110-99, to earn a spot in the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals, Saturday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The opposition managed to cut what was once a wide 29-point gap to just seven, but the former NBA cager was there to douse cold water in the fiery rally through a jumper and make it a 106-97 lead with 1:16 remaining in the game.
His star guard would take it from there, scoring the Road Warriors’ last four points to fully extinguish the Elasto Paintets and collect win no. 6 conference — in the process booking their first quarters trip under head coach Frankie Lim.
“We’re thankful we’re in the quarters. We just hope to get a spot in the Top Four,” said Lim, who replaced Yeng Guiao as the team’s chief mentor.
Alas led NLEX with 28 points, 13 of which he made in the fourth quarter alone. He shot 11-of-15 from the floor, including a 4-of-6 clip from deep,
Selden finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Don Trollano was instrumental in the victory as well with 20 points — 12 in the first half — and eight rebounds, alongside two dimes, a steal, and a block.
Now they turn their attention to Terrafirma, whom they’ll face on March 2, 4:30 p.m. also at the Big Dome in their penultimate game of the eliminations.
The Road Warriors beat an Elasto Painters side that was forced to play all-Filipino in the second half, when Greg Smith II fell down with a pulled hamstring. He left with only three points and two rebounds to his name.
Rey Nambatac took the scoring cudgels and wound up with 26 points in the loss, their second in a row since beating Blackwater last February 12.
Gabe Norwood provided 13 points and eight rebounds, Nick Demusis made 12 points and six rebounds, while Leonard Santillan added 10 markers for Rain or Shine, who’s at 10th in the standings with a 2-6 record.
The Elasto Painters, possibly with a new import, will have Phoenix Super LPG up next on March 1, Wednesday, 3 p.m. also in Araneta.
The Scores:
NLEX 110 – Alas 28, Selden Jr. 21, Trollano 20, Miranda 8, Goliguez 8, Rosales 8, Ganuelas-Rosser 7, Nieto 6, Pascual 4.
Rain or Shine 99 – Nambatac 26, Norwood 13, Demusis 12, Santillan 8, Mamuyac 7, Ildefonso 7, Borboran 7, Caracut 5, Belga 4, Smith 3, Yap 3, Ponferrada 2, Asistio 0, Clarito 0.
Quarterscores: 33-13, 62-35, 80-66, 110-99.
