NLEX rallies to outlast Ginebra in PBA Comm’s Cup

Sports

THE NLEX Road Warriors displayed a performance that their opponent is known for as they sneaked from behind to frustrate the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 118-113, in the 50th PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Friday night, March 28, at the Araneta Coliseum.

NLEX trailed by as many as 13 points and was still down by six late in the game when it mounted a huge fightback to come away with its third win in four games.

Bouncing back from a 97-103 loss to the TNT Tropang 5G, NLEX drew a stellar outing from ace guard Robert Bolick, who erupted for 32 points after averaging just 19 points in the first three games.

Bolick keyed NLEX’s searing endgame run by racking up six straight points in a crucial stretch, including a booming triple that gave the Road Warriors the lead for good, 115-113.

It wasn’t all Bolick for the Road Warriors as Cady Lalanne posted 28 points and 14 rebounds while Schonny Winston contributed 21 markers. LJay Gonzales also scored in double figures for NLEX with 14 points.

Going down the drain was the 46-point explosion of Ginebra import Justin Brownlee as the Kings slid to 1-1 (win-loss).

Ginebra led at the end of the first three quarters, erupting for 30 points in the first quarter while holding NLEX to just 18 only to falter at the finish.

THE SCORES:

NLEX (118) - Bolick 32, Lalanne 28, Winston 21, Gonzales 14, Bahio 6, Semerad 6, Alas 5, Rodger 3, Racal 3, Ramirez 0, Fajardo 0, Torres 0, Herndon 0.

GINEBRA (113) - Brownlee 46, Abarrientos 14, Aguilar 14, Rosario 11, Holt 10, Thompson 7, Gray 5, Cu 3, Go 3, Pinto 0, Torres 0.QUARTERSCORES:30-18, 59-54, 87-82, 118-113.(CCM)