NLEX VS BLACKWATER
EVENTS: Full Game Replay
Where: SMART ARANETA COLISEUM
When: Sunday March 27, 2016
When: Sunday March 27, 2016
The NLEX Road Warriors needed to shake off some early rust and hold off a second half rally before closing out the Blackwater Elite, 88-75, to pick up an Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup win in an Easter Sunday duel at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
NLEX shot under 30-percent in the first quarter and had to weather an 18-4 turnaround from Blackwater bridging the third and fourth quarters but held strong to notch their fourth win in eight games, moving back up to .500 in the conference standings.
Asi Taulava and Al Thornton both scored 22 points to pace NLEX with the Fil-Tongan veteran adding 15 rebounds and four assists and the former NBA player grabbing eight boards of his own.
Sean Anthony also had 15 points and eight rebounds while Kevin Alas had 10.
The game began with both teams showing some rust after the Holy Week break. NLEX had 18 points after the first quarter but shot just 6-for-22 (27-percent) while Blackwater could only muster 12 markers on 5-for-20 shooting (25-percent).
Behind Thornton and Taulava, the Road Warriors surged ahead in the second quarter, where they shot much better, hitting more than half of their field goal attempts after their slow start.
The Final Box score Result & Replay
NLEX 88 — Taulava 22, Thornton 22, Anthony 15, Alas 10, J Villanueva 7, E Villanueva 4, Khobuntin 3, Lanete 3, Enciso 2. Borboran 0.
Blackwater 75 — Dela Cruz 16, Rhett 14, Cervantes 11, Gamalinda 8, Cortez 7, Pascual 7, Lastimosa 6, Erram 4, Sena 2, Bulawan 0, Golla 0, Reyes 0, Tiongson 0.
Final Quarter Score Result
Quarters: 18-12; 42-32; 66-60; 88-75.