NLEX rallies to beat Dyip; Jolas 3-of-4

Games Tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:30 p.m. – TNT KaTropa vs Phoenix 7 p.m. – Ginebra vs Columbian

Aaron Fuller produced a double-double to begin his second tour of duty as NLEX defeated Columbian Dyip, 116-104, last night and got back on then winning track in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Called to fill in for injured import Olu Ashaoulu, Fuller played as if he never left as he finished with 35 points, 21 rebounds and seven assists to help the Road Warriors bounce back from a 102-72 defeat to the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok the previous Wednesday.

JR Quiñahan and Larry Fonacier hit the big threes late to seal NLEX’s third win in four games, a fitting conclusion to Jojo Lastimosa’s stint as interim coach.

Coach Yeng Guiao is due to return Saturday from coaching the national team in the Asian Games in Jakarta in time for NLEX’s match against San Miguel Beer at the same venue.

“We like our situation now,” said Lastimosa, whose team is also dealing with Kiefer Ravena’s ongoing FIBA suspension and Kevin Alas’ recovery from ACL injury.

“We miss coach Yeng, but right now we’re doing a little bit better on our defense. That’s going to be our weapon moving forward when he comes back.”

Fuller, who led NLEX to the quarterfinals in last season’s Governors’ Cup, was consistent right from the start, helping the Road Warriors erase an 85-78 deficit in the third by outscoring Columbian, 24-4, to claim a 102-89 lead in the fourth.

Columbian got to within five twice, the latter on import Akeem Wright’s triple, to cut NLEX’s lead to 107-102, 3:24 left.

But Quiñahan knocked down a triple on the ensuing play before a twominute scoring drought ended with a Fonacier corner three for 113-102, 1:19 remaining.

Fonacier scored 17 points, Kenneth Ighalo had 15 points while Quiñahan and former Columbian cager Bong Galanza added 10 apiece for the Road Warriors.