Two-of-two.
The hot start continued for NLEX as it took its second straight win in three days after it dismantled undermanned NorthPort, 123-107, to gain early leadership in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City last night.
Following a slow start, Olu Ashaolu scored 21 of his team-high 27 points in the second half to go along with his 13 rebounds for a double-double to once again backstop the Road Warriors for the second straight time.
The Road Warriors regained their bearings in the third as they re-established a sizeable lead, opening up a 77-65 advantage with over seven minutes left in the quarter to regain control after leading by twin-digits early in the game.
This time around, NLEX made sure its lead will be well taken care of as it entered the fourth with a comfortable 94-78 spread.
NorthPort, formerly GlobalPort, was unable to answer and impose a threat in the fourth as timely three-pointers from NLEX kept it at bay.
Larry Fonacier and Mac Tallo each scored 14 points for the Road Warriors while JR Quinahan had 12 and Kenneth Ighalo 11.
NLEX now owns a 2-0 record to lead the league early in the tournament.
The Batang Pier played minus superstar Stanley Pringle. who is serving the country in the ongoing Asian games in Indonesia as part of the National team.
For the same reason, National team interim coach Yeng Guiao also missed his second straight game for the Road Warriors.
Stand-in coach Jojo Lastimosa once again took charge of NLEX in Guiao’s absence.
Also, NorthPort missed the services of its other star Sean Anthony, who sat out with an injury.
Still carrying its momentum from its previous win, the Road Warriors came out strong and quickly built a 15-point lead at the end of one, 34-19.
But after shaking off the cobwebs, the Batang Pier bounced back in the second quarter and trimmed its deficit to just three, 58-61, at the half to put itself back in the contest heading to the second half.
Staying composed, NLEX picked it up again in the third to regain its double-digit lead and never looked back.
The Road Warriors withstood NorthPort import Rashon Woods’ game-high 42 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists as he barely got help from the other Batang Pier chargers.