MANILA – The NLEX Road Warriors returned to their winning ways in the 2021 Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) Philippine Cup after crushing Blackwater Bossing, 90-73, last night at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Joseph Ronald Quiahan bannered the Road Warriors with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Philip Paniamogan chipped in 14 points, including four three-pointers, as the Road Warriors moved to a 5-5 win-loss slate this season.
Celedonio Trollano had 12 markers, while Kenneth Ighalo and Kevin Alas contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively, as the Road Warriors fanned their playoffs hopes by snapping its three-game slide.
The Road Warriors set the tone early with conversions from Trollano and Ilonggo Jericho Cruz for a 28-22 lead. It grew to 46-38 at the half, with Quiñahan connecting inside hits in the second frame.
The Bossing rallied in the second half, cutting the deficit to 44-48, but Paniamogan’s three-pointers and a layup by Alas helped the Road Warriors stretch their lead to 90-69.
Simon Enciso top-scored with 17 points, while Carl Bryan Cruz and rookie Joshua Torralba fired 14 and 10 points, respectively, as the Bossing fell to 0-10, one loss away from ending the conference with a sweeping defeat.
In the first game, Ilonggo Antonio Jose Caram came up with clutch triples as Meralco Bolts made a triumphant return by beating Terrafirma Dyip, 95-83.
After seeing its double-digit lead scraped to 79-81 midway through the fourth quarter, Caram drilled two three-pointers to spark a 12-0 scoring run that widened the lead to 93-79 with less than a minute remaining.
The Dyip responded with a conversion from Negrense John Paul Calvo, but Raymond Almazan surged the Bolts’ advantage with an inside basket.
Caram finished the match with 13 points, including three outside conversions, while Kier John Quinto tallied conference-high 17 points as the Bolts stayed at second place in the standings with a 6-2 record.
BOX SCORE:
NLEX 90 — Quiñahan 16, Paniamogan 14, Trollano 12, Ighalo 11, Alas 10, Cruz 8, Porter 8, Oftana 4, Mcaloney 3, Soyud 2, Miranda 2, Ayonayon 0, Galanza 0.
BLACKWATER 73 — Enciso 17, Cruz 14, Torralba 10, Magat 6, Golla 6, Canaleta 6, Daquioag 5, Desiderio 4, Tolomia 3, Escoto 2, Paras 0, Dennison 0.
QUARTERSCORES:
28-22, 46-38, 70-58, 90-73./PN
