NLEX loses import to horrific injury but tops TNT

Sports

DEQUAN Jones was wheeled out after suffering a gruesome leg injury but the NLEX Road Warriors showed tremendous fighting spirit and topped the defending champions TNT Tropang 5G in overtime, 118-111, in PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Center Antipolo on Tuesday night, Aug. 11.

Jones was injured at the 7:27 mark of the third perio when he slipped while driving to the basket. The import’s right foot got caught under him as TNT defender Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser fell on him.

Jones grimaced in pain after suffering what was suspected to be a complete fracture of his lower right leg.

Without Jones, TNT surged ahead but Robert Bolick took over for NLEX, knocking down a pair of four-pointers that allowed the Road Warriors to tie the match at 107-all and force overtime.

NLEX sustained the momentum, taking a 116-111 lead late in the game before Bolick sealed the win by coming up with a steal that led to a fastbreak layup by Tony Semerad with 46.2 seconds left.

Bolick finished with 27 points while LJ Gonzales scattered 26 markers as the Road Warriors bounced back from an upset 109-114 loss to the Terrafirma Dyip to improve to 7-1 (win-loss).

Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson tallied 30 points while Rey Nambatac had 28 for TNT, which suffered a fourth defeat against the same number of wins.

THE SCORES:

NLEX (118) - Bolick 27, Gonzales 26, Jones 23, Winston 11, Bahio 11, Semerad 8, Alas 5, Gamboa 3, Valdez 2, Racal 2, Torres 0, Nelle 0.

TNT (111) - Hollis-Jefferson 30, Nambatac 28, Heading 17, Pogoy 15, Ganuelas-Rosser 15, Aurin 5, Ferrer 1, Khobuntin 0, Quitevis 0, Varilla 0, Erram 0, Galinato 0, Jalalon 0.QUARTERSCORES: 31-22, 60-53, 85-79, 107-107, 118-111.(CCM)