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NLEX holds its nerves down the stretch, proving it can go toe-to-toe with defending champion TNT as the Road Warriors knot their PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals
LAGUNA, Philippines – Call it morale-boosting win.
NLEX held its nerves down the stretch and scraped past TNT in a gripping 93-90 victory to knot their best-of-five quarterfinals in the PBA Governors’ Cup at 1-1 at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna on Friday, September 27.
DeQuan Jones chalked up 38 points and 12 rebounds in the nip-and-tuck affair marked by 9 deadlocks and 16 lead changes as the Road Warriors proved it can go toe-to-toe with the defending champion Tropang Giga.
While NLEX barely reached the playoffs as the fourth seed in Group B with a 5-5 record, TNT posted the best record in the league and topped Group A with an 8-2 card.
“It is a confidence builder for us knowing we can keep up with TNT, who is the No. 1 team. It just gives us some confidence that we’ve got a shot at this series,” said Road Warriors head coach Jong Uichico.
“The belief that we’ve got a shot is important to us.”
But the win did not come without a major scare as Tropang Giga import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson almost forced overtime, setting up a nail-biting finish that brought the sizable Laguneño crowd to its feet.
His side trailing 88-92 with under 20 seconds remaining, Hollis-Jefferson got fouled while taking a four-point shot to get a crack at tying the game.
The reigning Best Import, however, missed the last two of his four free throws then committed a foul on Javee Mocon, who made the first of his two foul shots then deliberately missed the second to effectively seal the win.
Hollis-Jefferson finished with impressive numbers of 22 points, 22 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks in the loss.
The Scores
NLEX 93 – Jones 38, Bolick 16, Herndon 8, Amer 6, Valdez 5, Rodger 4, Policarpio 4, Anthony 4, Nermal 3, Mocon 3, Miranda 2, Semerad 0, Nieto 0, Torres 0.
TNT 90 – Hollis-Jefferson 22, Castro 19, Pogoy 19, Nambatac 11, Oftana 9, Aurin 6, Khobuntin 2, Williams 2, Galinato 0, Heruela 0, Reyes 0, Erram.
Quarters : 24-21, 40-40, 69-64, 93-90.
