The NLEX Road Warriors notched an all-important 114-98 victory over the GlobalPort Batang Pier in a second half turnaround at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday evening.
The win gives NLEX a 5-5 slate, tying the Meralco Bolts in the middle of the pack. The crucial victory also helped the Road Warriors avoid a four-team tie at the bottom of the standings.
On the other hand, GlobalPort drop to a 3-7 record and have now lost three straight games. The Batang Pier quarters hopes have become bleak, as they have only one game to at least hit the four-win column.
Batang Pier held an eight-point lead at the break during a high-octane first half. A combined 33-point effort from Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle led a 59-51 cushion for GlobalPort, who waxed hot from downtown and tied their conference-average of ten makes during the first 24 minutes alone.
Despite an entertaining shootout from beyond-the-arc by the two teams, the Road Warriors ended up with a whopping 37-point third frame to reverse the game in their favour.
Henry Walker powered his way to a scoring burst in the second half, although he failed to tally a single assist in 44 minutes of action. On the flip side, the Batang Pier struggled to get offensive production aside from their trio of Romeo, Pringle and import Michael Glover.
After tying his conference-high output in their last game against Rain or Shine with 21, Garvo Lanete backed this up by surpassing it with 25 points and five threes. NLEX reinforcement Walker was his usual self,, scoring-wise with 35 markers, 13 rebounds on 14-of-32 shooting.
“It’s important to have a good start just like my last game. Nagka-good start ako ngayon kaya nagtuloy-tuloy kumpiyansa ko,” said Lanete after setting his personal record in the PBA. “Pero team effort pa rin kasi everyone stepped up.”
NLEX had more rebounds compared to GlobalPort, 54 to 40. In addition, they scored more in the paint, 52 to 36, and maintained a 47 percent shooting clip.
Romeo and Pringle ended up with 26 and 27 markers respectively. Glover added a quiet 21-point, 14-rebound effort in the loss.
NLEX’s last assignment will be up against the Alaska Aces (8th, 4-5) on September 16 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Meanwhile, GlobalPort seek a bit of hope to salvage their tournament against the struggling Blackwater Elite (12th, 1-8) at the Ynares Center on September 14.
The Scores:
NLEX (114) – Walker 35, Lanete 24, Villanueva J. 14, Alas 11, Taulava 11, Baracael 5, Khobuntin 4, Anthony 4, Villanueva E. 3, Akl 2, Monfort 0, Reyes 0.
GlobalPort (98) – Pringle 27, Romeo 26, Glover 21, Salvacion 7, Semerad 6, Mamaril 5, Washington 4, Yeo 2, Taha 0.
Quarterscores: 25-31, 51-59, 88-79, 114-98.
