Reinforcement DeQuan Jones shared how NLEX coach Jong Uichico and his staff helped prepare them mentally for the battle that lay ahead in the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup.
DeQuan Jones sat beside NLEX coach Jong Uichico, his 44-point outing earning him his spot next to his mentor as they entertained questions from the media.
Jones, whose scoring topped with 10 rebounds and a block made him Player of the Game, shared that Uichico and the rest of the coaching staff did a great job in keeping the team optimistic.
The result? A 103-99 victory over crowd favorite Brgy. Ginebra that gave the Road Warriors the ownership to the remaining ticket to the quarterfinals in Group B play in the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup.
"Coach (Jong Uichico) has a great skill at keeping guys poised. We go out and we practice jumpshots, but coach and the staff do a great job with staying positive and keeping everybody mentally into the game," said Jones on Sunday, Sept. 22.
They were poised indeed.
Even when they squandered their 92-85 lead in regulation. Even when RJ Abarrientos and Justin Brownlee connived down the stretch with a 7-0 closer for the Gin Kings. Even when Anthony Semerad floundered on his ensuing jumper with 9.3 ticks left, and when RJ Abarrientos ran down the court for his last-gasp attempt for Ginebra and also missed, signaling the additional five minutes.
Even when Maverick Ahanmisi's layup enabled Ginebra to threaten within 96-98 at the 2:43 mark in overtime. And even, after Jones scored on a trey to give NLEX a five-point cushion, 101-96, the Gin Kings remained steadfast in putting up a gallant stand until the end.
NLEX just would not budge and ended up with their fifth win in as many losses, enough to shove fellow aspirant Blackwater out of the way for its own passage to the next round.
The Bossing, who hung on to dear life with their huge win against San Miguel on Saturday, Sept. 22, saw their hopes dashed as even if they prevail over the Elasto Painters on Monday, Sept. 23, to tie the Road Warriors for 5-5, they will still be shown the exit door due to inferior quotient.
With their import Jones limited to just eight minutes of action in the first half after already incurring three fouls, the Road Warriors got outdueled in the second quarter, 13-22, after scoring 26 to 21 in the first frame.
But all NLEX needed was a pep talk from its coaching staff to turn it around.
"I think that was just a testament to coach and our staff. They told us, my teammates as well, they were like, 'Listen, second half is a whole new ballgame.' So it's a testament to them," said Jones.
Jones, who coughed up eight points in the opening two quarters, went on to finish with a 14-for-25 shooting clip spiked by a 4-for-6 conversion from the four-point arc.
Backing him up were Robert Bolick, who fed his teammates with 11 assists while also scoring 16 and hauling down seven boards, and Anthony Semerad who scored 12 all on triples, none bigger than the pair he swished in overtime to build the squad's early cushion there.
"We played almost the whole first half without him (Jones) and the guys stayed in the game. DJ (Jones) has found his rhythm later on," said Uichico.
Uichico lauded how Brgy. Ginebra performed in the tightly contested match that featured 10 deadlocks and 25 lead changes, saying that his crew only aimed to keep in step with their opponent.
"Ginebra was playing so well also. We were leading, then they were leading. And we just wanted to keep the game in striking distance," said Uichico.
"We had control of that regulation period, but they made big plays; we made some shots. That's just the way the game is... In the overtime, we made big stops, and we made big shots also," he added.
And those were enough to earn them the victory, allowing them to join fellow Group B qualifiers Rain or Shine, Brgy. Ginebra and San Miguel to the best-of-five crossover quarters.
NLEX, seeded fourth in its pool, is set to tangle with Group A top seed TNT.