NLEX translated both its purpose and caution into game and got rewarded with a 117-97 victory over hapless Blackwater Friday that got the former back on track in the PBA Governors' Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Import KJ McDaniels had 24 points and 11 rebounds while most of his local teammates each contributed as the Road Warriors let loose a charge that started right in the opening quarter and hardly let up the rest of the way.
In the end, NLEX snapped out of a three-game slide and improved to a 5-3 record overall while dealing Blackwater its seventh loss in as many games in the conference and stretched its league-worst losing streak to 26.
Getting back on track and unwillingness to be a footnote in PBA history combined to spur his side, according to NLEX coach Yeng Guiao.
"Gusto lang naming ma-break 'yung losing streak. We felt na if we lose again it would be a big hole we might not be able to come out from, so importante iyung panalo sa amin," said Guiao.
"We also felt na Blackwater is due for a win at some point. Siyempre ayaw namin na kami pa 'yung ma-biktima nila," added Guiao. "So that was (also) in our minds. We were wary that can happen."
Incidentally, the Bossing's last tasted a win against NLEX during the Clark bubble last year, but there was little chance of that happening this time around.
NLEX made sure of that by taking command early with a 34-14 lead at the end of the first period before extending the difference to 86-60 lead, 3:17 left in the third period.
Despite its struggles Blackwater managed to trim the deficit to 82-94 in the opening minutes of the fourth canto, but Jericho Cruz promptly hit a triple before joining JR Quinahan and Kevin Alas in stabilizing NLEX's endgame charge.
Cruz finished with a personal conference-high 22 points and five assists, Kris Rosales also provided support by equaling his career-high 18 points, while Alas had 15 points and six rebounds and Don Trollano had 11 points and six assists.
Shawn Glover scored a gamehigh 39 points and 15 rebounds, but Mike Ayonayon and Rey Suerte were the only other double-digit scorer in the game with 11 apiece.
"Their import played really good basketball, very efficient," noted Guiao. "Siguro kung mayroon lang naka suporta sa kanyang iba pang locals we could have been in trouble." (NC)(PBA)
(Photo credits to: Rappler)