NLEX adds to Columbian’s struggles
THE NLEX Road Warriors returned to winning in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup on Wednesday, defeating Columbian Dyip, 116-104, in the curtain-raiser at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Found themselves in a tight battle althroughout the match, the Road Warriors showed steady focus to keep in step with the Dyip before making their move in the end for the win.
The victory was a bounce back for NLEX (3-1), which lost in its previous game, while the loss sent Columbian (0-3) to its third straight defeat.
NLEX went on a fast start, racing to a 17-7 lead, led by replacement import Aaron Fuller, by the 8:08 mark of the opening quarter.
But the Dyip would not let the lead balloon, instead going on a furious run of their own with guard Jerramy King leading the charge.
They outscored the Road Warriors, 2716, the rest of the way to seize the lead, 34-33, by the end of the first 12 minutes.
A slugfest marked the start of the second canto, with the teams jockeying to get control.
The count stood at 45-44 and Columbian leading with six minutes lapsing.
The teams battled thereafter with NLEX eventually ending on top at the half, holding a slim 64-62 edge.
The tight nature of the contest continued at the start of the third period.
Import Akeem Wright and guard RaShawn McCarthy towed the Dyip to a 79-76 lead at the 6:40 mark.
Much like the path the game took earlier, NLEX would reverse things on the lead of Mr. Fuller.
The Road Warriors would drive their way ahead anew, 91-87, after the first three quarters.
NLEX built on it the finish it had in the third to crank things up early in the fourth period.
It stretched their lead to 11 points, 10089, three minutes into the final canto.
The Dyip managed to trim their deficit to five points, 102-97, in the next three minutes only to see the Road Warriors pull away once again.
The Road Warriors held an eight-point lead entering the last two minutes.
Columbian attempted to inch its way back but NLEX was not to allow the Dyip to gain much headway on its way to the victory.
Mr. Fuller led NLEX with 35 points and 21 rebounds while veteran Larry Fonacier had 17 points.
Kenneth Ighalo had 15 for the Road Warriors.
Mr. Wright, meanwhile, paced Columbian with 37 points and 17 rebounds. Mr. King added 22 points. — Michael Angelo