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[av_heading heading=’NLEX downs Aces, heads to first PBA semis’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’18’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Thursday, March 8, 2018
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MANILA – After nailing its first-ever PBA playoff victory, NLEX Road Warriors achieved another first in its four-year franchise history – it barged into the semifinals of the PBA Philippine Cup.
Road Warriors drew strength from Michael Miranda and Kevin Alas in the endgame to complete a two-game quarterfinals sweep of Alaska Aces 87-83 last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Trailing 80-83 with two minutes left in the game, Miranda came up with 5 straight points – a top-of-the-key triple and two free throws – to give Road Warriors an 85-83 upper hand. Alas raised the lead with an acrobatic layup a possession later.
Alas finished the match with 18 points and nine rebounds while Miranda added 12 for Road Warriors, which set up a date with Magnolia Hotshots in a best-of-seven semifinals beginning Saturday.
JR Quiñahan also had another solid game with 16 points before fouling out late in the game, while Ilonggo rookie Kiefer Ravena had 11 points and seven assists for Road Warriors.
“Isasara ang NLEX. May bonfire,” Road Warriors coach Yeng Guiao said in jest after the match. “Pinaghandaan namin itong Game 2. Magaling ang Alaska sa playoffs so we really anticipate the changes they made.”
It was a nip-and-tuck battle for both teams in the first three quarters before Aces gained its largest lead at 8 points in the third. NLEX came up with shots from Alas and Quiñahan to cut the deficit to 3 heading into the fourth.
Road Warriors gained the upper hand early in the fourth 70-64 on triples by Quiñahan but Aces came up with a rally behind Calvin Abueva to surge 83-80.
Abueva led the scoring for Aces with double-double 17 points and 16 rebounds. Chris Exciminiano had 12 markers while Kevin Racal and Jvee Casio had 10 points each./PN
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