Much of the attention was inevitably on TNT and its quest for a rare Grand Slam feat, but NLEX refused to become a mere footnote.
The Road Warriors spoiled the Tropang 5G’s debut by way of a convincing 91-74 victory to post back-to-back wins in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup, Wednesday evening at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Buoyed by their 109-95 conquest of Rain or Shine before the Holy Week break, Coach Jong Uichico’s wards took the lead early before pulling away in the second half on the way to improving their record to 3-1 in the standings.
“Siyempre, coming off a championship, tapos ilang araw lang (sila) nakapag-practice. May kasabihan nga eh… ‘yung ano, hangover sa championship. May gano’n talaga eh,” offered Uichico, himself a former mentor of TNT.
“But in due time makaka-recover din sila. Suwerte nga rin kami, medyo nangangapa pa sila. So ano, na-timing lang din kami,” he added.
JB Bahio provided the surprise spark for NLEX this time, finishing with 13 points and 12 rebounds with four assists to help lead a balanced attack.
Xyrus Torres, who waxed hot with 28 points on 11-of-12 shooting against the Elasto Painters, also contributed 13 points as the young ones stepped up and more than made up for Robert Bolick’s shooting struggles.
Bolick did finish with 13 points but shot only 4-of-18 from the floor, although he still collected eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals.
Javee Mocon made 11 points while Enoch Valdez and Brandon Ramirez each supplied 10 markers apiece as six tallied double figures in scoring.
“We need young players to give the energy even while the veterans are out, and then they give another dimension to our game. It also challenges the veterans to play as hard as the young ones do — and vice versa,” said Uichico.
NLEX will look to make it three wins in a row when it takes on Blackwater on May 2, Friday, at the new Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal.
(C) PBA Images
Roger Pogoy and Kelly Williams, meanwhile, had 12 and 11 points, respectively, to lead the Tropa in the defeat that saw them fall behind by as many as 22.
No other player finished in double figures for TNT, which was just weeks removed from its conquest of the Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup following a thrilling best-of-7 Finals series against Barangay Ginebra that went the distance.
But an opportunity to nab their first win of the tilt lies ahead as they’re bound to face Converge this Sunday, April 27, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The Scores:
NLEX 91 – Bahio 13, Torres 13, Bolick 13, Mocon 11, Ramirez 10, Valdez 10, Semerad 6, Nieto 5, Alas 3, Fajardo 2
TNT 74 – Pogoy 12, Williams 11, Enciso 9, Erram 9, Nambatac 9, Oftana 8, Khobuntin 7, Aurin 4, Payawal 3, Ebona 2, Heruala 0, Varilla 0
Quarterscores: 21-19, 47-35, 68-51, 91-74.
