NLEX refused to take skidding Blackwater for granted and the Road Warriors rewarded themselves with a key 90-73 win in the PBA Philippine Cup at the DHVSU Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga Thursday.
JR Quinahan, who sat out their last game with an injured hand, made up for lost time, pacing the Road Warriors with 16 markers on top of eight rebounds and two assists as they snapped out of their slide and jacked up their record to 5-5.
Philip Paniamogan, Kevin Alas, Don Trollano and Kevin Ighalo contributed double-digit outputs as the Road Warriors shored up their quarters hopes while sending the Bossing to further slump.
With its 10th straight loss in the tourney, Blackwater tied the dubious mark of longest losing streak in the league – 18 suffered by Great Taste/Presto in the 1980 season.
The Bossing had lost their last eight games in Season 45 all-Filipino over at the AUF Gymnasium in Angeles, Pampanga.
“We wanted to come out with a sense of urgency as we desperately needed to win for a chance to make the next round,” said NLEX coach Yeng Guiao.
“Our plan was to put a distance as early as we can kasi yung malalakas na teams nadikitan nila. And they can be very dangerous. They’re not as weak as it seems dahil nakakadikit sila doon sa mga malalakas na nakalaban nila,” Guiao added.
And as they stayed focused on their goal, the Road Warriors stayed on the driver’s seat almost throughout the match.
“We’re also trying to build back our confidence. Ganoon kaimportante sa amin ang panalong ito,” said Guiao, checking a three-game slide going to their final game in the elims against the Meralco Bolts.
The Blackwater Bossing play their farewell game in the tourney also against the Bolts.
NLEX’s balanced attack also saw Raul Soyud (11 boards) and Jericho Cruz (10) come through with double-digit numbers in rebounding.
Kevin Porter flirted with double-double numbers with nine rebounds and eight markers.
Simon Enciso led the losing team with 17 markers spiked by a 5-of-14 three-point shooting as Carl Bryan Cruz added 14 points. (PBA)
The scores:
NLEX 90 – Quinahan 16, Paniamogan 14, Trollano 12, Ighalo 11, Alas 10, Porter 8, Cruz 8, Oftana 4, McAloney 3, Miranda 2, Soyud 2, Ayonayon 0, Semerad 0, Galanza 0.
Blackwater 73 – Enciso 17, Cruz 14, Torralba 10, Canaleta 6, Golla 6, Magat 6, Daquioag 5, Desiderio 4, Tolomia 3, Escoto 2, Paras 0, Semerad 0, Dennison 0, Amer 0, Nabong 0.
Quarters:28-22, 46-38, 70-58, 90-73
