NLEX came through in the clutch with the most critical plays to outlast pesky Rain or Shine side, 122-114, in a double-overtime thriller for its third straight win in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Once again, Aaron Fuller blossomed, dropping game-highs of 33 points and 19 rebounds to lead the charge, while Kevin Alas continued to be big as well, putting up solid numbers of 24 points, on 50 percent shooting, 10 rebounds and five dimes all for the Road Warriors’ cause.
NLEX finally took control when it mattered most, coming up with a decisive 11-3 surge to close the game out in the waning minutes of the second overtime period.
The Road Warriors now have the solo tournament lead, improving to a clean 3-0 slate as they continued to turn the tide after a dismal showing in the first two conferences.
On the other hand, the Elasto Painters suffered their first defeat after winning their initial assignment.
Maverick Ahamnisi forced the first overtime period at 101-apiece in regulation with a tough shot in traffic in the waning seconds.
In the first extension, Alas hit a game-tying lay-up to make it 110-all, making up for a previous error that allowed Rain or Shine to have the upperhand prior to his basket.
Meanwhile, the 12 players who will represent the National Team in the FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon next month were also named yesterday and the cast was led by three-time reigning Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer.
Along with Fajardo, the other members of Gilas Pilipinas for the tournament are usual suspects Japeth Aguilar of Ginebra, Jayson Castro and RR Pogoy of TNT KaTropa, Terrence Romeo of GlobalPort, Calvin Abueva and Calr Bryan Cruz of Alaska, Matthew Wright of Phoenix, Gabe Norwood and Raymund Almazan of Rain or Shine and Jio Jalalon of Star.
Completing the line-up will be Filipino-German Christian Standhardinger, who was tapped as well for this campaign to take the spot of resident naturalized player Andray Blatche.
Blatche begged off due to security reasons.