THE courageous spirit coach Jong Uichico said his NLEX team has was on full display Friday when it stretched its winning run to six following an 88-83 squeaker over Converge in the PBA Philippine Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Robert Bolick had 19 points and 10 assists while Xyrus Torres added 18 markers as the Road Warriors fought tooth and nail from the get-go, clawed to as much as an 18-point lead before refusing to buckle under in the endgame.
"Alam naman namin na malakas 'yung Converge. They've been playing so well. We needed to find the extras. Saan namin hahanapin 'yung extra, kasi malakas sila umiskor, malakas sila dumepensa?" posed Uichico, who previously stated his team may be undersized compared to Converge but boasts of a big fighting heart.
"We just had to find those extras. And the players did their job in finding that extra," added Uichico.
Now with the longest winning streak in franchise history and a 6-1 record, NLEX not only tied Magnolia for the lead but also moved closer to clinching a spot in the eight-team quarterfinals following the 11-game eliminations.
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Javee Mocon also came through at crunchtime after the FiberXers waged a scorching fightback from a 58-76 deficit and threatened within 78-81, 4:08 to go, by driving hard for a layup.
Bolick then took over, stringing up five straight points that pegged an 88-80 cushion that served the Road Warriors in good stead as Justine Baltazar boomed in a triple that made it a five-point game, 1:47 left.
Converge even had the chance to move closer and give the game a different complexion when Bolick turned the ball over, with 67 seconds to go. But Schonny Winston was called for an offensive foul on Matt Nieto, heralding a chaotic ending for the FiberXers.
The loss dropped Converge to a 5-4 slate notwithstanding the combined 33 points and 22 rebounds by Justin Arana and Baltazar, as well as Alec Stockton's 17 markers and Winston's 16.
Mocon and Anthony Semerad each chipped in 10 points for NLEX aside from helping Brandon Ramirez and JB Bahio in trying to prevent Arana and Baltazar from throwing their weight inside.
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Semerad even scored eight in the first quarter that enabled the Road Warriors to race to a 31-23 lead but it was Torres who really hogged the offensive limelight by hitting his first four three-point tries in the first half, with the last giving them a 52-42 lead at the break. (NC)
