NLEX passed a tough test against San Miguel to get back on the winning track in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup in Cagayan de Oro City.
NLEX pulled off a 112-108 escape act against San Miguel in overtime of their PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup match on Saturday, Aug. 31.
The Road Warriors thus broke off a logjam at second in Group B and improved to 3-1 behind league leader Rain or Shine at 4-0.
Import Myke Henry did almost everything for the Road Warriors, finishing with 33 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks in the lone game in the season's second out-of-town play date at the Aquilino Pimentel Jr. International Convention Center in Cagayan de Oro City.
It was Robbie Herndon, though, who made the biggest shot after nailing a cold-blooded triple from the opposite side of the right elbow scramble to give NLEX a 110-106 buffer with 28.2 ticks remaining.
San Miguel sued for time, left with the choices of either taking a four-pointer or going for the quick basket.
The Beermen went for the latter, with June Mar Fajardo imposing his might over Michael Miranda down low for the breezy reverse, 110-108.
San Miguel made sure not to foul early and trapped Henry right after he crossed the halfcourt line.
It did not work.
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At that moment, the Beermen had no other recourse but to foul Robert Bolick, who consequently canned two free throws for the Road Warriors that upped their advantage to 112-108 with 13.8 left.
In the final play, CJ Perez and Chris Ross botched shots from the four-point line.
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Before the see-saw battle in the extra period, NLEX thought it had the game in the bag after a mini six-to-nothing run that put them ahead, 93-98, with 1:29 left in regulation.
Perez responded with a three-point play 13 seconds later for San Miguel to close in, 98-96.
The Beermen had the chance to at least tie the game or snatch the lead, but Terrence Romeo took an early shot from the four-point line that went short.
Fortunately for San Miguel, Bolick missed a contested jumper in the ensuing play.
With 5.6 seconds left in the fourth period, the Beermen went to import Jordan Adams, who broke free from Henry’s defense and scored on a tough layup against Miranda for the tie that led to the extra five minutes.
Bolick ended up with 20 big points, while Miranda had 17 including 14 in the fourth period where he shot a four-pointer for a 96-93 lead with 2:18 to go.
Jonnel Policarpio chipped in 12 points, while Jhan Nermal and Herndon added 10 points apiece.
Meanwhile, Adams paced the Beermen with 36 points in a losing cause.
Perez fired 29 points for San Miguel, which dropped its second straight game for a 2-2 tally.
The Scores (OT):
NLEX 112 – Henry 33, Bolick 20, Miranda 17, Policarpio 12, Nermal 10, Herndon 10, Rodger 6, Fajardo 2, Amer 2, Pascual 0, Marcelo 0, Valdez 0.
SAN MIGUEL 108 – Adams 36, Perez 29, Fajardo 19, Romeo 6, Trollano 5, Ross 4, Lassiter 3, Rosales 3, Manuel 2, Tautuaa 1, Cruz 0, Teng 0, Nava 0.
Quarterscores: 20-23, 52-47, 69-74, 98-98, 112-108 (OT).