BEFORE flying home, KJ McDaniels helped NLEX carve out one more win that guaranteed the Road Warriors a Top Four finish in the PBA Governors' Cup elims.
McDaniels and the Road Warriors put up a performance to remember in their final game together in the tourney, repulsing the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 115-103, in a crucial tiff Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
McDaniels produced 26 points and 10 boards and drew solid support from Kevin Alas, Don Trollano, Justin Chua and Kris Rosales as the Road Warriors sustained their romp en route to a closing 8-3 win-loss mark in the elims.
That assured the team of at least a tie for second spot and its important reward of twice-to-win incentive in the quarterfinals.
Unfortunately, they will no longer be with McDaniels in the post-elims play.
McDaniels is set to fly home to attend to his wife who is due to give birth. Already in town to take over is Euro League veteran Cameron Clark from Oklahoma University.
"If there's anything that can convince KJ to stay, we would do it but his family is really the first priority," said NLEX coach Yeng Guiao.
"We'll be missing a lot, I don't know how we'll play without him (McDaniels). We've gotten so used to being with him on and off the court. He's been settling down and now he needs to go. Sayang. Pero we have to move on after KJ," he added.
Pumped up emotionally, the Road Warriors waged a good fight and rewarded themselves a fourth straight win while ending the Gin Kings' two-game streak.
Alas sizzled with a near triple-double job with 18 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, Rosales sparkled with five triples and a total of 17 markers, Chua added 15 including three treys while Trollano contributed 14 markers.
JR Quinahan (10) was a fifth NLEX player to hit double-digit output
Justine Brownlee completed a triple-double with 36 points, 11 assists and 10 boards that went to naught with their loss.
Backing him up with double-digit outputs were Christian Standhardinger (16), Japeth Aguilar (15) and Scottie Thompson (14). (SB)
The scores:
NLEX 115 - McDaniels 26, Alas 18, Rosales 17, Chua 15, Trollano 14, Quinahan 10, Nieto 5, Murrell 4, Paniamogan 3, Ighalo 3, Soyud 0.
Ginebra 103 - Brownlee 36, Standhardinger 16, Aguilar 15, Thompson 14, J. Tenorio 9, Chan 7, Onwubere 2, Tolentino 2, Pinto 2, R. Aguilar 0.
Quarters: 21-33, 53-58, 83-77, 115-103.(PBA)
(Photo credits to: PBA)