PBA: NLEX escapes Terrafirma in thriller for second straight win

MANILA, July 13 ------ The NLEX Road Warriors escaped with a 101-100 victory over Terrafirma Dyip in Group A of the PBA Season 50 Governors' Cup at the Ynares Center in Montalban, securing their second straight win.

DeQuan Jones led NLEX with 30 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three blocks as the Road Warriors remained unbeaten in two games since new head coach Jimmy Alapag took over. "Credit to Terrafirma, making the adjustments to slow down our pace," said Jones after NLEX survived a late scare and avoided blowing a 23-point lead when Justin Strings missed at the buzzer. "We need to do a better job of executing late down the stretch and not getting comfortable with our lead," added the returning import.

Schonny Winston added 13 points, six assists, and five rebounds, while Robert Bolick chipped in 12 points, seven assists, and four rebounds for NLEX, which was outscored, 33-11, in the fourth quarter. The defeat handed Terrafirma its first loss of the conference after opening its campaign with a 113-100 victory over the Titan Ultra Giant Risers on Friday.

Mav Ahanmisi spearheaded the Dyip's attack with 19 points, six rebounds, six assists, and two crucial three-pointers during their fourth-quarter comeback, while Strings had 18 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists before missing what could have been the game-winning basket. Juami Tiongson was also instrumental in Terrafirma's comeback bid, finishing with 19 points, four rebounds, and three assists as CJ Catapusan knocked down all of his nine points from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter.

The Scores:

NLEX 101 – Jones 30, Winston 13, Bolick 12, Alas 9, Bahio 8, Semerad 8, Gonzales 5, Valdez 4, Herndon 4, Torres 3, Rodger 3, Capulong 2, Ramirez 0, Gamboa 0, Nieto 0.

Terrafirma 100 – Ahanmisi 19, Tiongson 19, Strings 18, Bravo 9, Catapusan 9, Eriobu 7, Paraiso 6, Hanapi 6, Chiu 5, Umali 2, Mariano 0, Zaldivar 0.

Quarterscores: 32-29, 65-48, 90-67, 101-100.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com