PBA: Bol Bol powers TNT past NLEX for win No. 1

MANILA, March 23 ------ Bol Bol sparked the TNT Tropang 5G to a 103-97 win over NLEX putting them in the win column for the first time in the PBA Season 50 Commissioners' Cup.

Bol scored 40 points on an 18-of-37 shooting clip while grabbing 15 rebounds and blocking two shots for the 5G at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. Jordan Heading had 15 and Calvin Oftana and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser each had 14 for TNT, which bounced back after opening the conference with a loss to Rain or Shine.

Bol went toe-to-toe with NLEX import Cady Lalanne down the stretch, with the TNT reinforcement knocking down a jumper that made it 91-all with just under three minutes to go. A clutch triple by Ganuelas-Rosser put TNT ahead for good, 94-91, with 1:55 left before a turnover by Schonny Winston led to a Heading layup that made it 96-91 for the 5G.

A Lalanne bucket gave NLEX some hope, 97-93, though Heading restored a two-possession lead with a perfect trip at the line. The Road Warriors stayed in the hunt, however, when Robert Bolick drilled a four-pointer with five seconds left for a 97-99 count. Unfortunately for NLEX, Bolick was also called for a flagrant after the play, putting him out of commission in the closing seconds. Oftana went 4-of-4 at the line in the final stretch of the game to ice it for TNT.

Lalanne finished with 25 points and 21 rebounds, while Bolick had 21 points and nine assists for NLEX, which dropped to 2-1.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com