NLEX simply pounded and pummeled a short-handed Magnolia side, and celebrated the PBA's return at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium with a coast-to-coast 87-74 win on Saturday.
Robert Bolick and Anthony Semerad formed a deadly one-two punch, leading a dominant NLEX performance that rewarded the Road Warriors the solo second in the PBA Philippine Cup with a 5-1 slate.
Relegated to third was NorthPort at 4-1.
Minus Calvin Abueva, the Hotshots struggled badly all night and reeled to a second straight loss after a triumphant conference debut versus the Converge FiberXers, 106-75.
From his MVP show in the 2024 PBA All-Star Game in Bacolod, Bolick had another sterling act with 26 points plus nine assists as the Road Warriors rolled to a fourth straight win and stayed in the coattail of unbeaten frontrunner San Miguel Beer (4-0).
Semerad had his own big game with 22 markers and 10 boards as the Road Warriors made the most on the Hotshots' struggle with Abueva serving a game suspension for an unsportsmanlike act in the Easter Clasico versus Barangay Ginebra.
Sponsored content: And the Hotshots are now off to a poor start coming from a runner-up finish behind the San Miguel Beermen in the recent Commissioner's Cup.
Bolick and his teammates were all-business from the get-go and pulled away early at 26-12.
After slowing down and beaten by the Hotshots, 11-15, in the second period, the Road Warriors buckled down to work again and established a 20-point bulge going into the fourth quarter.
And there's no relax for the Road Warriors all the way to the finish.
The losing side was led by Ian Sangalang and Mark Barroca with just 13 and 10, respectively.(SB)
Sponsored content: The Scores:
NLEX 87 - Bolick 26, Semerad 22, Herndon 9, Miranda 6, Amer 6, Fajardo 6, Nieto 6, Pasucal 3, Nermal 2, Rodger 0, Marcelo 1, Anthony 0, Valdez 0.
MAGNOLIA 74 - Escoto 13, Sanagalang 13, Barroca 10, Laput 8, Jalalon 6, Corpuz 5, Lee 5, Mendoza 5, Ahanmisi 4, Eriobu 3, Reavis 0, Murrell 0.
QUARTERS: 26-12, 37-27, 67-47, 87-74
