By REYNALD MAGALLON
NLEX overcame some tense moments in the waning seconds and held on to a 93-90 escape over TNT in a frantic finish in Game 2 of their quarterfinals series in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Laguna on Friday, Sept. 27.
The Road Warriors dodged huge bullets in the final possession of the Tropang Giga as Rondae Hollis-Jefferson botched crucial free throws down the stretch, allowing NLEX to get away and even the best-of-five series to 1-1.
With NLEX only up by four, the reigning best import actually had the chance to send the game to an extra period with four free throws after getting fouled taking the four-pointer by Javee Mocon with three ticks left in the contest.
He calmly sank the first two free throws but botched the third, missing the chance to tie the score. Out of desperation, Hollis-Jefferson intentionally missed the last one to get another chance but he was called for a loose ball foul and turned the ball over.
Mocon made up for his careless foul on that possession and iced the game with a free throw for NLEX.
DeQuan Jones starred for NLEX with 38 points – 22 of which he poured in the second half, including five straight points that restored order for the Road Warriors when the Tropang Giga momentarily took the lead, 85-82, with three minutes left.
He added 12 rebounds, a steal and a block to his name with Robert Bolick, after shaking off a rough start, backstopping him with 16 points and five assists. Robbie Herndon was NLEX’s next best scorer with eight but contributed well on the rebounding department with 11 boards.
Meanwhile, Magnolia took advantage of the early exit of Aaron Fuller and completely shut down Rain or Shine with a 121-69 drubbing in Game 2 of their own quarterfinals series.
The Hotshots clamped down on the defensive end against Elasto Painters, particularly in the second frame where they limited the Group B top seed to a measly five points while opening the floodgates with a 36-point explosion.
When the dust settled, Magnolia already broke the game wide open and erected a massive 38-point lead at the break, 66-28. The Hotshots were never threatened the rest of the way to not only tie the series at 1-1 but also deal the Elasto Painters a 52-point defeat — their worst loss in franchise history.
Magnolia’s new import and former NBA player Jabari Bird led the balanced attack with a double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds while Calvin Abueva was also unleashed with a conference-high of 18 points to go with 10 rebounds.
Mark Barroca orchestrated the attack with 10 assists to go with his 11 points while Ian Sangalang had 12 and Rome dela Rosa and Joseph Eriobu with 11 apiece.
The Scores:
First Game:
MAGNOLIA 121 – Bird 22, Abueva 18, Sangalang 12, Barroca 11, Eriobu 11, Dela Rosa 11, Dionisio 9, Lucero 9, Mendoza 7, Laput 4, Lee 4, Balanza 2, Reavis 1, Alfaro 0, Ahanmisi 0, Escoto 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 69 – Nocum 13, Lemetti 11, Asistio 7, Datu 7, Clarito 6, Santillan 6, Mamuyac 5, Tiongson 5, Fuller 4, Belga 4, Caracut 1, Escandor 0, Borboran 0, 0, Ildefonso 0, Villegas 0, Norwood 0
QUARTERS : 34-23, 66-28, 88-49, 121-69
Second Game:
NLEX 93 – Jones 38, Bolick 16, Herndon 8, Amer 6, Valdez 5, Rodger 4, Policarpio 4, Anthony 4, Nermal 3, Mocon 3, Miranda 2, Semerad 0, Nieto 0, Torres 0
TNT 90 – Hollis-Jefferson 22, Castro 19, Pogoy 19, Nambatac 11, Oftana 9, Aurin 6, Khobuntin 2, Williams 2, Galinato 0, Heruela 0, Reyes 0, Erram 0.
QUARTERS : 24-21, 40-40, 69-64, 93-90
