TWO game-turning runs in the payoff period enabled the NLEX Road Warriors to come from behind and slay the Blackwater Elite, 93-90, and officially secure a quarterfinals berth in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan last night.
The dynamic backcourt duo of Kevin Alas and rookie sensation Kiefer Ravena finally showcased what they are capable of playing together.
Alas led the Road Warriors’ charge with a game-high 25 points, eight rebounds and five assists in his best game of the tournament so far. Ravena remained steady, adding 23 points along with three boards and three steals.
The Road Warriors (6 wins, 4 losses) thus climbed into a tie at third place with the Alaska Aces (6-4) behind the league-leading San Miguel Beermen (7-2) and the Magnolia Hotshots (7-3).
The other teams include the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (5-3), Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (5-4), the Phoenix Fuel Masters (4-5) and the GlobalPort Batang Pier (4-5).
Bringing up the rear are the Elite (4-6), TNT KaTropa (4-6), the Meralco Bolts (3-6) and the Kia Picanto (1-8).
The Road Warriors also officially advanced to the quarterfinals towing the Aces right along with them.
The Road Warriors won their fourth game in a row and are peaking at the right time.
“We weren’t at our best in the first three quarters but we stayed in it and gave ourselves a chance. The players stepped up at the right time in the fourth quarter for us to steal the win,” said NLEX coach Yeng Guiao.
As for the Elite, the defeat was a big blow as it did not only see its two-game streak snapped, but its fate is not in its hand anymore. The Elite fell to 4-6 and now needs to win its last assignment and hope that the results of the remaining games of the other teams in the chase result in their favour.
Only the top eight teams will move forward in the next phase.
Down but not out heading to the fourth, the Road Warriors suddenly woke up at the right time.
NLEX, who was behind by nine through three quarters, charged off the gates and uncorked a swift 9-0 run to even things at 74-all with 10:37 remaining after a triple from Alas.
After Blackwater retook the lead for a brief stretch, the Road Warriors resumed their surge and once again orchestrated a spurt, conducting an 18-8 run midway the period to put themselves in a good position with a 92-86 advantage with just under two minutes left.
There was no looking back from there for NLEX as it iced another win and finished off the Elite in the process despite the latter’s last-ditch effort.
The Elite actually had one last shot to tie the game and send it to overtime but Mac Belo’s potential tying triple was off the mark as time expired.
Mike DiGregorio had 16 points to lead Blackwater, who led for most part before collapsing and failing to finish the job in the fourth.
Meanwhile, a gigantic rematch of last season’s Governors’ Cup finals between Barangay Ginebra (5-4) and Meralco (3-6) is currently taking place, as of this report, in the same arena where they set an attendance record not too long ago.
The Gin Kings and the Bolts are both in dire need of a victory as they chase a spot in the next round.