THE NLEX Road Warriors stuck together despite losing a 17-point spread and went on to stretch their streak to four games with an 89-86 decision over the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium Wednesday night.
Robert Bolick was at the heart of it all for NLEX, playing through a badly bruised quadricep and pouring in 28 points, including big buckets in the crunch as the Road Warriors weathered the Gin Kings' searing rally.
Xyrus Torres also came through with crucial baskets, including a trey that pushed NLEX back in the lead, 87-86, before eventually escaping through to improve to 4-1 (win-loss) while sending the Kings down to 2-2.
The Road Warriors established control on key runs in the middle quarters only to face imminent danger on a Ginebra storm led by a sudden explosion by Stephen Holt.
Holt scoring 18 of his 21 points in the fourth had the Gin Kings sprinting ahead at 84-81, but then Bolick and Torres combined in an 8-2 closing punch to save the day for the Road Warriors.
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"Stephen Holt really shot the lights out and got them back into the game. It's good that Berto (Bolick) carried us through. Berto was there to step up," said NLEX coach Jong Uichico.
"Credit kay coach (Uichico), ang ganda ng game plan. (Mere) 86 points (scored by Ginebra, it meant) ang ganda ng depensa namin," said Bolick.
"Pumutok si Holt, pero nakaka-proud yung team namin, ang liliit namin, pero nag-tulong-tulungan," he added.
Bolick led the way with his 28-point sizzler marked by 3-of-3 three-pointers. Then he added seven rebounds, four assists and one block against four turnovers.
Torres added 11 markers, the same output delivered by Brandon Ramirez before taking the exit with a suspected dislocated jaw suffered on a wayward swing by Jamie Malonzo.
Kevin Alas was a fourth NLEX player to finish in double figures with 10.
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Holt and Scottie Thompson carried much of the load for Ginebra with 21 and 20 points respectively. They themselves scored all but six of Ginebra's 33 points in the closing period.
Jamie Malonzo contributed 11 markers but missed a crucial attempt from the arc just after NLEX regained the upperhand at 87-86.
It was a one-possession ballgame up to the final seconds. Ginebra eventually yielded as Thompson missed the target in their final attempt.(SB)
The Scores :
NLEX 89 - Bolick 28, Torres 11, Ramirez 11, Alas 10, Mocon 8, Bahio 6, Semerad 6, Fajardo 5, Rodger 2, Policarpio 2, Nieto 0.
GINEBRA 86 - Holt 21, Thompson 20, Malonzo 11, Abarrientos 11, Rosario 8, J.Aguilar 7, Adamos 6, Pinto 2, Cu 0, David 0, Mariano 0.
QUARTERS: 13-23, 37-36, 67-53, 89-86
