NLEX came back from a 28-point deficit in the third quarter to pull off a stunning 113-111 overtime win over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Saturday night (early Sunday Manila time) to conclude the PBA Governors’ Cup’s visit to the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
Kiefer Ravena hit a buzzer-beating three in regulation before finding Jericho Cruz for a go-ahead trey in the extension to give the Road Warriors a thrilling victory and atone for Friday’s 98-94 loss to the San Miguel Beermen.
The Road Warriors salvaged a split of the series in the emirate and improve to 4-1 for third place.
Ravena finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and 17 assists, Cruz had 13 points, import Olu Ashaolu topscored with 25 points before fouling out and Philip Paniamogan drilled six triples for 20 points for NLEX.
Poy Erram added 21 points and five rebounds in his second game after being sidelined for two weeks with a strained left elbow.
Coach Yeng Guiao and the Road Warriors looked dead in the water after Ginebra took leads of 69-41 and 72-44 in the third.
But NLEX slowly regained its shooting touch from downtown, eventually tying the score at 100-all on Erram’s three with 38 seconds left in the fourth.
Justin Brownlee, who produced 42 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and four blocks, put the Kings back in front 102-100 on two foul shots before Japeth Aguilar was fouled after Ravena missed a game-tying runner.
Aguilar, however, made just one of two free throws with 7.3 seconds left, setting up Ravena’s tying three off LA Tenorio at the buzzer for 103-all that brought the crowd of Filipino OFWs and expatriates in a frenzy.
Ginebra took a pair of four-point leads with Tenorio sinking two freebies for 111-107, less than two minutes in overtime.
Paniamogan’s three gave NLEX a lifeline, Brownlee missed a layup before Ravena found Cruz on the right side that enabled the Road Warriors to go up 113-111 with 20.2 seconds to go.
Ginebra tried to respond but Aguilar missed a game-tying basket, Tenorio muffed a three-point shot and Pringle failed to convert a follow-up before Scottie Thompson fouled JR Quinahan with 0.9 seconds left. (Jonas Terrado)
The scores:
NLEX 113 — Ashaolu 25, Erram 21, Paniamogan 20, Ravena 13, Cruz 13, Quinahan 9, Ighalo 5, Varilla 3, Fonacier 2, Galanza 2, Miranda 0.
GINEBRA 111 — Brownlee 42, Pringle 19, Slaughter 19, Tenorio 12, Aguilar 9, Dela Cruz 4, Caguioa 4, Thompson 2, Caperal 0.
Quarters: 22-29; 39-59; 72-86; 103-103 (Reg); 113-111 (OT).
