MANILA – Kiefer Ravena made a triumphant return in the league. The NLEX Road Warriors cruised to a 123-116 win over Phoenix Fuel Masters in the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After being away for almost a year due to FIBA suspension, the Ilonggo guard hardly missed a beat in his return. He flirted with triple-double of 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
Oluseyi Ashaolu led the way with double-double 29 points and 11 rebounds. Philip Paniamogan had 14 markers while rookie Paul Varilla and Larry Fonacier finished with 11 points each.
The Road Warriors went toe-to-toe with the Fuel Masters in the first two quarters before blasting away in the third period on baskets from Ashaolu to build a 94-84 edge following a buzzer-beating triple by Pedrito Galanza from far away.
NLEX was still ahead 105-95 after three outside conversions from Paniamogan but the Phoenix kept the game close behind Eugene Phelps as they threatened to within 113-116.
But that was Fuel Masters’ last stand. The Road Warriors leaned on split free throws by Ilonggos Ravena and Jericho Cruz and another three-point basket from Cruz to pull away 121-113.
Phelps finished the match with double-double 38 points and 10 rebounds while Matthew Wright and Bacolodnon Justin Chua added 24 and 15 markers, respectively, for the Fuel Masters.
In the second game, Raymond Almazan came up with huge baskets down the stretch as the Meralco Bolts clawed back from a double-digit deficit to beat defending champions Magnolia Hotshots, 98-92.
Trailing by as much as 16 points, the Bolts leaned on the trio of Almazan, Allen Durham and Chris Newsome to tie the score at 92-all. Almazan then uncorked a triple and split from the line for a 96-92 edge before Baser Amer iced the win with two free throws.
Almazan finished with double-double 19 points and 13 rebounds, while Newsome tallied 22 points and 10 boards and import Durham had near triple-double 21 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists for the Bolts./PN
