NLEX stepped it up once again, particularly in the second half, as it strengthened its bid for a berth in the quarterfinals by routing GlobalPort, 114-98, for its second straight win in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After being more of a facilitator in their last game, Henry Walker was back in scoring mode, tallying a game-high 35 points on top of 13 rebounds to lead the way for the Road Warriors.
For the second straight game, deadly sniper Garvo Lanete went wild from the perimeter, hitting five from beyond the arc on his way to a career-high 25 points as his tandem with Walker did wonders again for NLEX.
The crucial win sent NLEX into a 5-5 tie for sixth and seventh places with sister team Meralco, with only a game left. Its chances of securing a berth in the next phase got better with this victory.
“We did a good job of stopping their top scorers in the second half,” said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez. “We’re still not in the playoffs and we play Alaska next Friday so we need that win as well.”
On the contrary, this third straight loss was a painful one for the Batang Pier as it dropped to 3-7 in 10th place, needing to win its final assignment and hope that the teams above them lose so that they can at least gain a playoff for a spot in the quarters.
Following a slow start wherein it trailed 51-59 at the half after a sub-par first half, NLEX erupted in the third canto, pulverizing GlobalPort, 37-20, to turn the tide and grab an 88-79 advantage into the fourth.
The Road Warriors never looked back and pounced on the helpless Batang Pier further in the last 12 minutes as they led by double figures en route to a smooth finish.
Stanley Pringle led GlobalPort with his team-high 27 points.
The scores:
NLEX 114—Walker 35, Lanete 25, Villanueva J. 14, Alas 11, Taulava 11, Baracael 5, Anthony 4, Khobuntin 4, Villanueva E. 3, Akl 2, Monfort 0, Reyes 0.
GLOBALPORT 98—Pringle 27, Romeo 26, Glover 21, Salvacion 7, Semerad 6, Mamaril 5, Washington 4, Yeo 2, Taha 0.
Quarters: 25-31, 51-59, 88-79, 114-98