NLEX repulses Terrafirma

NLEX weathered Terrafirma’s furious fourth-quarter uprising to escape by the skin of its teeth, 101-100, for back-to-back wins in Group A of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Governors’ Cup on Sunday at the Ynares Center-Montalban.

The Road Warriors breathed a collective sigh of relief after squandering a once-imposing 23-point lead to start the final period when Justin Strings’ potential game-winning three-pointer bounced off the rim as time expired.

“You have to give a lot of credit to Terrafirma. I thought they played great. I have to do a better job. I don’t think I did a very good job in the fourth quarter,” NLEX first year coach Jimmy Alapag said.

“I think the zone gave us some issues and again that’s credit to Terrafirma and their staff. But I think we’re able to get the stops when we need them,” he added.

The Dyip outgunned the Road Warriors in the fourth quarter, 33-11, after entering the payoff period trailing by a mile, 67-90.

Strings, who was limited to just five points in the first half, sank a jumper over the outstretched arm of Schonny Winston to pull Terrafirma to within one, 101-100, with 42.7 seconds remaining.

NLEX gave the Dyip one last possession after Xyrus Torres and Robert Bolick missed their three-point and four-point attempts. Juami Tiongson got the ball to an open Strings for the unsuccessful try to salvage a come-from-behind shocker.

DeQuan Jones led the Road Warriors with 30 points but only had five points in the second half.

“Credit to Terrafirma, they’ve done a great job making the adjustments going zone to slow down our pace. Credit to them and their coaching staff. But we just have to do a better job executing late down the stretch and not get too comfortable with the lead and staying aggressive,” said Jones, who grabbed seven rebounds with four assists and three blocks.

Winston had 13 points, six assists and five rebounds while Bolick added 12, seven dishes and four boards for the Road Warriors, who will play their third game in five days tomorrow against Titan Ultra.

NLEX pulled away in the second quarter, turning a slim 44-41 lead to a 62-41 advantage on a huge 18-0 blast capped by a Jone trey with 1:42 left in the first half.

Maverick Ahanmisi and Tiongson paced the 1-1 Dyip with 19 points each while Strings had 18 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.