MANILA — NLEX Road Warriors rode on the exploits of Earl Clark to take down sister team TNT Tropang Giga, 110-101, in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Down 74-77 after three quarters, Clark connived with Kevin Alas, Michael Miranda and Matt Nieto in a scorching fourth quarter start for the Road Warriors to take a 95-83 lead.
The Tropang Giga threatened to within 96-101 after a Roger Pogoy trey, but a triple by Nieto, two free throws by Alas and back-to-back inside baskets by Clark widened the Road Warriors lead to 110-99.
Clark finished the game with double-double 45 points and 16 rebounds to go with four blocks as the Road Warriors snapped its two-game losing skid to improve to 3-2 slate.
Alas added 24 markers, including four three-point conversions, while Celedonio Trollano and Nieto contributed 16 and 12 markers, respectively, for the Road Warriors.
Cameron Oliver had double-double 26 points and 22 rebounds, Roger Pogoy and Mikey Williams added 19 and 16 markers, respectively, as the Tropang Giga dropped to 2-2.
In the first game, Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters recorded its third straight win after taking down Meralco Bolts, 89-82. The Fuel Masters moved up to 3-3, while the Bolts dropped to 1-4.
From a slim 24-22 lead, the Fuel Masters waxed hot in the second period with three-pointers from Tyler Tio, Javee Mocon and Kaleb Wesson to establish a 47-38 halftime lead.
Phoenix went on to build its largest lead at 82-63 but Meralco charged back to within 77-84 but a three-pointer by Tio and an inside hit bu Wesson sealed the win for the Fuel Masters.
Wesson finished with double-double 23 points and 13 rebounds, while rookies Tio and Encho Serrano contributed 14 markers apiece for the Fuel Masters.
BOX SCORE:
NLEX 110 – Clark 45, Alas 24, Trollano 16, Nieto 12, Miranda 9, Rosales 3, Chua 1, Varilla 0, Fonacier 0, Celda 0, Magat 0.
TNT 101 – Oliver 26, Pogoy 19, M. Williams 16, Oftana 11, Erram 10, Castro 8, Montalbo 6, K. Williams 5, Tungcab 0, Alejandro 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0.
Quarterscores: 26-15, 49-45, 74-77, 110-101./PN
