Don Trollano and the NLEX Road Warriors’ desire to win led to their all-time best Thursday night in the 2023 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup, at the Araneta Coliseum.
Trollano exploded with a career-high 44 points and a record-setting nine triples as the Road Warriors went on to pummel the Terrafirma Dyip, 142-125.
The 6’1” Trollano, who matched the output of Robert Bolick in the previous conference, poured in 24 points in the third period for the Road Warriors, who posted their seventh win in 10 games.
“Kailangan lang naming manalo. This is a crucial game,” said Trollano, who surpassed the previous high of eight triples of Calvin Oftana as a rookie in the 2021 Philippine Cup.
His great performance put him in the company of Caidic in terms of hitting 9 consecutive triples, along with Renten Ritualo and Von Pessumal.
The former Adamson University standout knocked in nine points in the second period as the Road Warriors took a commanding 66-49 lead at the half.
His three-pointer in the last 1:24 of the first half handed the Road Warriors a 17-point edge.
In all, the Road Warriors connected with 23 triples, a new season-high that erased the previous high of 22 done by the Bay Area Dragons in their 140-108 win over the TNT Tropang Giga last November.
“The rebounds, and the scores just came. What’s important for us is that we won this one,” said Road Warriors’ coach Frankie Lim as NLEX sits firmly in fourth place.
Trollano’s scoring spree started in the last 2:25, during a 7-0 spurt, when he sank six points as NLEX rallied from a 37-40 deficit and into a 54-45 edge.
He strung up five triples in the third period as NLEX took a 25-point spread, 107-82, with 1:02 remaining.
The Scores:
NLEX 142—Trollano 44, Selden Jr. 38, Ganuelas-Rosser 19, Alas 15, Paniamogan 6, Nieto 5, Rosales 4, Pascual 4, Miranda 3, Doliguez 2, Semerad 2, Gabo 0, Ighalo 0
TERRAFIRMA 125—Tiongson 38, J.Williams 29, Cahilig 17, Gabayni 13, Ramos 5, Cabagnot 5, Calvo 4, Camson 4, Gomez de Liano 3, Daquioag 3, Alolino 2, Ferrer 2, Mina 0
QUARTERS: 31-27, 66-49, 110-87, 142-125