NLEX books sixth seed
NLEX booked a better quarterfinal spot following a masterful 109-95 victory over NorthPort in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Raul Soyud spearheaded the attack, helping the Road Warriors secure the victory that gave them the sixth seed in the next round of this season-opening tournament.
Aside from bagging the sixth spot, the Road Warriors also averted the danger of falling into the seventh spot, where they will face second seed TNT Tropang Giga, which is armed with a twice-to-beat advantage.
This game assured us of at least a sixth-place finish.
Instead, the Road Warriors will be pitted in a best-of-three duel with the third seed, which would either be Magnolia or Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
The Hotshots are still clashing with Blackwater at press time for a victory that will give them the No. 3.
But whoever they face, NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao vowed to go all out in a bid to win their first title in franchise history.
“This game assured us of at least a sixth-place finish,” said Guiao, who had to play through the absence of key veterans Kevin Alas, JR Quinahan and Kris Rosales.
“It kept us from seventh or eighth. It’s hard to play a stronger team while having a twice-to-beat disadvantage.”
“Sixth place is just the same with other spots. We won’t choose any team because they are all strong from three, four, five to six.”
A rotation player whose expertise is defense, Soyud fired a conference-high
19 points and six rebounds while Calvin Oftana delivered 12 of his 18 points during NLEX’s telling first-half rally that greatly demoralized NorthPort.
Don Trollano added 16 points and three rebounds while Anthony Semerad and Philip Paniamogan were also impressive offensively as they connived for 30 points.
The absence of NorthPort stars Robert Bolick and Jaime Malonzo made it easier for NLEX as they relied on their hot shooting by scoring 33 points from the outside to carry a 57-39 cushion at the half.
The injury of swingman Jesper Ayaay in the third quarter compounded woes for the Batang Pier, while veteran Arwind Santos struggled to keep his team afloat.
The Road Warriors never looked back after Soyud sparked a 16-4 run that gave them their biggest lead at 27 points, 103-76, 5:47 left to play.
Rookie big man JM Calma nearly posted a double-double performance of 21 points and nine rebounds for the Batang Pier who ended their rollercoaster campaign with a 3-8 win-loss card.
The Scores:
NLEX (109) — Soyud 19, Oftana 18, Trollano 16, Paniamogan 15, Semerad 15, Chua 9, Miranda 8, Fonacier 4, Varilla 3, Nieto 2, Ighalo 0.
NORTHPORT (95) — Calma 21, Ferrer 16, Sumang 12, Ayaay 11, Vigil 10, Balanza 8, Dela Cruz 7, Santos 4, Subido 3, Javier 3
QUARTERS: 28-16, 57-39, 83-66, 109-95.