OT WIN KEEPS NLEX’S HOPES ALIVE
Michael Madanly came in when everything seemed lost for NLEX in regulation play, sparking an amazing comeback leading to a crucial overtime triumph for the Road Warriors.
NLEX survived a 10-point deficit in the last three minutes in regulations then battered Blackwater in overtime, carving out a 102-89 win to keep its slim chance for the PBA Governors’ Cup playoffs at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.
Madanly fired three treys in the crunch, the first two igniting their siege from 10 points down at 75-85 and the last finishing off the Elite in the extra period at 96-89.
The Road Warriors thus kept their flickering quarterfinals hope alive at 3-7 while the Elite suffered yet another harrowing loss and moved deeper down the cellar at 1-9.
“(Our fate) is not in our hands but I thank my players for this win,” said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez.
“When we were down, my players stepped up on defense. The players on the court made it happen. They turned the game around for us,” Fernandez also said, mentioning Madanly, Asi Taulava, Kwame Alexander, Mac Cardona and Jonas Villanueva.
“Our team is not a good offensive team, but we can win with defense. We came back as we played a solid zone,” Fernandez pointed out.
Step up on defense they did, holding the Elite down to two free throws in the last three minutes in regulations and to a lone field-goal basket in OT.
The Elite blew away a lead as big as 17 at 62-45 and barely forced the extra period on two charities by import Marcus Cousin with 0.9 seconds to go.
Blackwater got a crack at overtime as Jerick Cañada deflected an NLEX throw-in in the last nine seconds, leading to a steal that paved the way for Cousin’s trip to the line.
The Road Warriors, however, kept the fire of their endgame comeback in overtime, immediately seizing control at 91-87 on two foul shots by Taulava and a breakaway slam by Alexander.
After Cañada broke their silence on a perimeter shot, Alexander nailed another basket before Mandaly knocked in a booming trey to settle the outcome of the game.
The Syrian player went 5-of-10 from the arc and finished with 18 points, two rebounds and two steals.
Alexander made 26 points and 16 rebounds to pace the Road Warriors who also drew double-digit outputs from Cardona (16) and Taulava (10).
Cousin put in 29 points and 14 rebounds that went down the drain with their endgame collapse.
The towering import is now 0-of-3 in his PBA stint. (SB)
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