THE NLEX Road Warriors made it four wins in as many games in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup after they defeated the Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters, 95-91, yesterday.
One of the hottest teams early in the season-ending PBA tournament, the Road Warriors (4-0) continued to surge by adding the Fuel Masters (2-2) to their list of conquered.
Banking on its newfound grit and determination, NLEX fought it out against Phoenix all the way to hack out the win.
Phoenix and NLEX joust from the start, with the Fuel Masters holding a slim 15-14 advantage at the end of the first period.
The tight affair spilled over in the second quarter as the protagonists jockeyed for control.
But Phoenix would remain ahead, taking a 43-39 lead at the half time break.
The two teams went back and forth to start the third canto.
NLEX tied the contest at 56-all with 6:52 left in the quarter.
Phoenix, however, would recover, outscoring its opponent, 13-8, the rest of the way to remain on top at the end of the third quarter, 69-64.
The Fuel Masters picked up where they left off in the previous quarter, outgunning the Road Warriors, 9-4, to stretch their cushion to 78-68 in the first three minutes of the payoff period.
Undeterred, NLEX would charge back with a 13-2 blast, behind Carlo Lastimosa and Alex Mallari, to seize the lead, 81-80, with 5:13 remaining on the game clock.
It was a springboard the Road Warriors used to build a five-point separation with 1:09 to go.
Phoenix managed to cut its deficit, 90-87, with 26 ticks left but it would go no nearer than that as NLEX held on for the win.
Import Aaron Fuller paced NLEX with 18 points and 24 rebounds.
Messrs. Mallari and Lastimosa each had 14 points while Kevin Alas finished with 13. Eugene Phelps, meanwhile, led Phoenix with 31 points and 18 rebounds while rookie Matthew Wright had 17 points.
“Veteran leadership has been doing it for us so far as well as confidence. Hopefully we get to continue it,” said Mr. Lastimosa after their win.