NLEX showed steadiness in crunch time and escaped San Miguel in overtime, 112-108, for win no. 3 in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup, Saturday at the Aquilino Pimentel Jr. International Convention Center in Cagayan de Oro.
The quartet of Myke Henry, Ritchie Rodger, Robbie Herndon, and Robert Bolick all lifted the Road Warriors from a 104-103 deficit with 1:55 left to play for a solid bounce-back after collapsing against Rain or Shine the last time out.
The former NBA pro showed the way with 33 points, six rebounds, and four assists as he delivered on both ends in the extra period to help his side eventually take solo second in Group A with a 3-1 record.
Henry sank the go-ahead runner with 1:35 remaining in OT, and then contested counterpart Jordan Adams’ fadeaway jumper moments later in the first of two key stops NLEX pulled off that helped complete the upset.
The second of which was Dave Marcelo’s big block on CJ Perez, which led to a Rodger bucket — off a nifty escape from Chris Ross’ defense — that pushed their lead to three, 107-104, with a little under 45 seconds on the clock.
Coach Jorge Gallent and Co. tried to play the long game by settling for quick deuces, but the gutsy Road Warriors countered with shots of their own.
After Adams pulled his side to within a point, Herndon nailed a cold-blooded trey from the left wing with 28.2 ticks to go to push their lead to four, 110-106.
June Mar Fajardo scored inside on the other end and tried to force a turnover, but NLEX managed to get past mid-court, leaving San Miguel with no choice but to foul. Bolick, though, sank his freebies for the eventual final count.
Perez and Ross tried to tie the game once again but their attempts from the four-point line did not hit the target, and the Beermen would absorb their second loss in a row after starting the conference with back-to-back wins.
Bolick finished with 20 points and nine rebounds. Michael Miranda supplied 17, including a four late in regulation that served as a highlight of the see-saw tiff.
Rookie Jonnel Policarpio made 12 points, all in the first half, while Herndon and forward Jhan Nermal chipped in 10 markers apiece in the triumph.
Coach Jong Uichico and his Road Warriors will face Barangay Ginebra next on September 3, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Adams, on the other hand, had 36 points, including the tough layup with 1.8 seconds left in regulation to send the game to OT, to lead San Miguel.
Perez fell just short of a triple -double as he made 29 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists while June Mar Fajardo added 19 and 17 for SMB,
Up next for San Miguel is Rain or Shine, the only unbeaten team in the tilt at 4-0. Game is on September 5, Thursday, 7:30 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Scores:
NLEX 112 – Henry 33, Bolick 20, Miranda 17, Policarpio 12, Nermal 10, Herndon 10, Rodger 6, Fajardo 2, Amer 2, Pascual 0, Marcelo 0, Valdez 0.
San Miguel 108 – Adams 36, Perez 29, Fajardo 19, Romeo 6, Trollano 5, Ross 4, Lassiter 3, Rosales 3, Manuel 2, Tautuaa 1, Cruz 0, Teng 0, Nava 0.
Quarterscores: 20-23, 52-47, 69-74, 98-98, 112-108.
