MANILA – NLEX Road Warriors squandered a lead as high as 23 points before escaping with a 100-95 victory over Phoenix Fuel Masters in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ahead by 23 points in the opening half, the Fuel Masters slowly clawed their way back until they took a 93-89 advantage on a four-point shot by Ryan Roose Garcia with over a minute left.
The Road Warriors rode on consecutive baskets by import Myke Henry followed by a three-pointer by Robbie Herdon for a 99-95 edge. A free throw by Henry sealed the win for NLEX.
Henry was emerged as Player of the Game after finishing with 37 points and nine rebounds for the Road Warriors, which tied the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters with 2-0 win-loss slate.
“Just like our previous game, we also lost our lead, but good thing we were able to weather the storm,” said Road Warriors head coach Joseph Uichico. “If there is one good thing about this game is overcoming the adversity.”
The Fuel Masters, on the other hand, suffered their second defeat in as many matches.
On Saturday night, rookie Felix Lemetti showed nerves of steel in the endgame as the Painters upset Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings (0-1), 73-64, at the Candon City Arena in Candon, Ilocos Sur.
Down 62-64 after a basket by Gin Kings’ Justin Brownlee, Lemetti connected three free throws to surge the Painters ahead at 65-64 before they extended it to 67-64 on a fastbreak hit by Jhonard Clarito.
The Painters widened the lead further to 70-64 on split free throws by Gian Mamuyac, Caelan Tiongson, and Aaron Fuller before Lemetti sealed the come-from-behind win with a three-pointer.
Lemetti, a surprise No. 8 overall pick by the Painters in the PBA Season 49 Rookie Draft, finished with a career-high of 13 points, Fuller added a double-double of 15 points and 23 rebounds and Andrei Caracut contributed 14 markers./PN
