MANILA – NLEX Road Warriors overcame a slow start to score a 97-84 victory over sister team TNT Tropang Giga in the 2023 PBA on Tour on Wednesday night at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan City.
Anthony Semerad top-scored with 23 points, including five three-point conversions, while Ilonggo Clint Doliguez and Celedonio Trollano added 16 markers apiece as the Road Warriors moved up to 5-5.
Kevin Alas chipped in 14 points, five steals, three rebounds and two assists, Sean Anthony ended with 11 markers, while Elvin Jake Pascual hauled 18 rebounds to go with four points for NLEX.
Down 17-37 after the first 12 minutes, the Road Warriors turned things around in the second quarter as they outscored the Tropang Giga, 24-8, to cut the deficit to 41-45 at the half.
The Road Warriors continued its rampage in the third quarter as they surged ahead at 74-68 before establishing their largest lead of the contest at 95-75 via a three-pointer from Trollano.
Carl Bryan Cruz top-scored with 26 points, including seven triples, Glenn Khobuntin had double-double 24 points and 10 rebounds, while Frederick Tungcab had 12 markers as the Tropang Giga dropped to 1-9.
Meanwhile, Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots completed a sweep of their 2023 PBA on Tour matches following a 106-92 beating of Terrafirma Dyip. The Hotshots finished the tournament with 11-0, while the Dyip dropped to 4-7.
Holding to a slim 72-69 advantage after three quarters, the Hotshots got seven points from Joseph Eriobu while also getting contributions from Aris Dionisio and Andy Mark Barroca as the lead swelled to 92-79.
The Dyip still tried to play catch up behind Eric James Camson but the Hotshots managed to pull away behind Eriobu and James Laput as the lead reached its biggest at 106-89 late in the fourth period.
Laput finished with double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds, Eriobu contributed 15 markers, all in the second half, while Barroca and Dionisio had 12 and 10, respectively, for the Hotshots.
BOX SCORE:
NLEX 97 – Semerad 23, Doliguez 16, Trollano 16, Alas 13, Anthony 11, Nieto 6, Pascual 4, Guissani 3, Paniamogan 2, Adamos 2.
TNT 84 – Cruz 26, Khobuntin 24, Tungcab 12, Jopia 6, Marcelo 5, Heruela 3, Varilla 3, Reyes 3, Montalbo 2, Cuntapay 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0.
Quarterscores: 17-37, 41-45, 74-68, 97-84./PN
