NLEX clips Phoenix behind Burton
DEONTE Burton and NLEX draw first blood after a 97-92 win over Phoenix in their best-of-five quarterfinal round series on Sunday in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
Photograph courtesy of PBA
Games tomorrow:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
5:15 p.m. — Rain or Shine
vs Converge
7:30 p.m. — Ginebra
vs San Miguel Beer
NLEX drew first blood after outlasting Phoenix in a 97–92 nail-biting win in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Governors’ Cup best-of-five quarterfinals series opener on Sunday at the Ynares Center-Antipolo.
Import Deonte Burton delivered two defensive gems in the closing minutes and nailed a pair of insurance freethrows with 13.8 seconds left in the game as the Road Warriors weathered a furious late fightback by the Fuel Masters.
Burton played clutch in crunch time despite getting into foul trouble early, finishing with 27 points, 11 rebounds and two assists while flexing his defensive prowess with three steals and three blocks.
“You gotta adjust to how the refs call the game. You just got to keep on playing and don’t let it bother you,” said Burton, who got called for a fifth foul with 7:55 left in the payoff period.
NLEX head coach Jimmy Alapag was forced to send Burton and Robert Bolick, who was also dealing with five fouls, midway through the fourth quarter after the Fuel Masters threatened to turn the tables around.
A Bolick three-pointer gave NLEX a six-point separation, but Ricci Rivero completed a three-point play and Ken Tuffin nailed a spin move short stab to trim the Road Warriors’ lead to 90-89 with 3:38.
Tony Semerad answered with a layup on the other end before Burton blocked Kai Ballungay on Phoenix’s possession. Burton converted two foul shots before Marcellus Earlington swished in a three to get the Fuel Masters within striking distance, 94-91, with 1:38 left.
Phoenix had the chance to equalize but Burton swatted away Gian Mamuyac’s three-point attempt.
NLEX failed to convert in its possession as Tuffin split his trip on the line with 22.9 seconds left. Ljay Gonzales gave the Road Warriors more breathing room, 95-92, after sinking one of his two free throws as a substitute shooter off an Earlington flagrant foul against Enoch Valdez with 15.3 seconds remaining.
“Phoenix has been a resilient team throughout the conference. So, it’s expected that they’ll continue to play. And again, they clawed and fight throughout the game but I think down the stretch we made enough plays especially on the defensive end,” Alapag said.
Bolick had 20 points, Schonny Winston scored 13 while Semerad got 11 points for the Road Warriors, who will try to extend their series lead on Wednesday at the same Antipolo venue.