2 weeks Ago By N/A (Reynald I. Magallon)
The Road Warriors rode on a balanced attack to essay a dominant 91-74 victory and deny the Tropang 5G a winning start in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup on Wednesday, April 23, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. NLEX came like a truck that TNT did not see coming at the start of its Grand Slam chase. The Road Warriors rode on a balanced attack to essay a dominant 91-74 victory and deny the Tropang 5G a winning start in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup on Wednesday, April 23, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
NLEX hardly needed the usual big scoring game from star guard Robert Bolick as the Road Warriors got plenty of contributions across the board from young guns like JB Bahio, Xyrus Torres and Enoch Valdez to pick up their second straight win for a 2-1 slate. Six Road Warriors actually scored in double figures with Bolick still orchestrating the attack with 13 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals while Bahio posted a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds. Torres also finished with 13 – 10 of which he fired in the first two quarters where the Road Warriors erected a double-digit spread, 47-31, to take full control of the first half.
The Tropang 5G, though, seemingly finally able to shake off the rust, threatened in the second half when they came within six, 49-55, midway through the third frame. NLEX, however, displayed composure, unloading seven unanswered points to quickly restore order for the Road Warriors, who even led by as many as 22 points in the final frame. Javee Mocon added 11 while Valdez and Brandon Ramirez chipped in 10 apiece for NLEX.
RR Pogoy paced TNT with 12 while Kelly Williams had 11..
