Hard work and grit paid off for the NLEX Road Warriors as they pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the 50th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup on Wednesday, escaping with an 85-84 thriller over the powerhouse San Miguel Beermen at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.
At the heart of the victory was JB Bahio — the unsung hero whose relentless energy and toughness powered NLEX’s come-from-behind triumph.
Known for his bruising, blue-collar style of play, Bahio delivered a solid double-double performance with 12 points and 12 rebounds, including the two crucial free throws in the final 17 seconds that gave the Road Warriors an 84-80 cushion.
“Hustle sa depensa at sa rebounding namin — ‘yun ang puhunan namin kasi medyo undersized kami,” said Bahio, reflecting on the team’s gritty effort.
San Miguel mounted one last push, with Don Trollano drilling a rare four-point play to trim the deficit to one, 84-83, with 11 seconds left. Bahio, sent again to the line with 9.8 ticks remaining, missed both charities, giving the Beermen a final chance. But Trollano lost control of the ball as time expired, sealing NLEX’s thrilling victory.
“We just tried to stay in the game. Alam namin na hindi madali ang laban with San Miguel,” said NLEX coach Jong Uichico, commending his team’s resilience.
The Road Warriors fought valiantly despite missing top scorer Robert Bolick, who sat out the game following the passing of his father.
In Bolick’s absence, Jonnel Policarpio and Brandon Ramirez stepped up with 16 points each, but it was Bahio’s late-game composure and hustle plays that ultimately made the difference.
For Bahio, it was a moment of validation — proof that tenacity, teamwork, and heart can topple even the mightiest of foes.
