Carnival standing 1 win and 2 lost while Road Warriors standing the same 1 win and 2 lost, In two previous meetings this season, the Kia Carnival have failed to beat the NLEX Road Warriors. In both games, Kia held the lead early in the game only to have the Road Warriors rally in the second half to win. Kia has the firepower to beat NLEX, but it has to show more mental toughness to be able to close out and eventually notch a win against the Road Warriors.
GAME PREVIEW | KIA VS NLEX [follow this link]
Date: MONDAY MAY 18, 2015
Time: 4:15 p.m. Philippine Time
Venue: YNAREZ CENTER
TV Info: The match will be broadcast on TV5 Network and Aksyon TV (AkTV).
Hyram Bagatsting nailed a triple with two seconds left as the Kia Carnival completed a come from behind victory against the NLEX Road Warriors, 85-82, on Monday in Antipolo City.
"Last play is for LA [Revilla], but i told him if somebody is open, don't hesitate to kick the ball out," said Kia assistant coach Chito Victolero. "That's exactly what happened. Hyram has a good look and he knocks it in. Our chemistry is improving every game."
Chemistry may not have been an issue for Revilla and Bagatsing, as the two spent years together with the De La Salle Green Archers.
LA Revilla led the Carnical with 15 points, five assits, four rebounds and three steals, while import Jet Chang added 14 markers. Big man Hamady N'Diaye was limited to six points and seven rebounds, but Alex Nuyles and Jason Deutchman came off the bench for 10 points each. Game hero Bagatsing added eight points in 13 minutes of play.
The Carnival found themselves down 14 af the half, as an Enrico Villanueva make ended the second period, 50-36. The Carnival turned it around in the second, scoring 27 while limiting the Road Warriors to just 11. A Hyram Bagatsing trey nudged Kia ahead, 83-81, heading into the final turn.
Neither team let up in the fourth, as a Kwame Alexander basket tied the game at 82-all with 16 seconds remaining. Off a timeout, Kia went to Bagatsing, who drilled a triple with two seconds remaining to give his team the victory.
Kwame Alexander led NLEX with 22 points and 10 boards, while Asi Taulava chipped in 17. Mark Borboran added 10, as no other Road Warrior registered double figures. - GMA News
The scores:
Kia 85 -- Revilla 15, Cheng 15, Deutchman 10, Nuyles 10, Bagatsing 8, NDiaye 6, Thiele 6, Yee 5, Pascual 4, Pareno 4, Alvarez 2, Ighalo 0, Dehesa 0, Webb 0, Avenido 0.
NLEX 82 -- Alexandr 22, Taulava 17, Borboran 10, Cardona 8, E. Villanueva 6, Canaleta 5, J. Villanueva 4, Madanly 3, Lingganay Raymundo 0, H. Arboleda 0.
Quarters: 15-28; 36-50; 63-61; 85-82.