IT'S back to square one for defending champion TNT and NLEX which will now engage on a virtual race-to-two for the coveted ticket to the PBA Governors' Cup semifinals from hereon.
The Road Warriors avoided getting into a 0-2 against the Group A topnotcher Tropang Giga by grinding out a 93-90 equalizer Friday night in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
This big win, a bounceback to NLEX's opening 107-102 loss to TNT, gives the Group B No. 4 seeds a major boost as they head to all-important Game 3 Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Winner of the 5 p.m. tiebreaker will move a breath away from the Final Four.
"It's a confidence builder for us. Knowing that we can keep up with TNT who is the number one team, it gives us some confidence that we've got a shot at this series," said NLEX coach Jong Uichico.
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Import DeQuan Jones, who made the big plays in the endgame of Game 2 and finished with 32 points and 12 rebounds, echoed his mentor's sentiment.
"You know, coach always stressed it. Coach said you know the slate is zero-zero. It's a whole new battle and we're going to it with that mindset. So with the series split, we'll celebrate, we'll feel good about it overnight, then we'll get back to work tomorrow, (Saturday)" he said.
Jones expects yet another down-to-the-wire battle for a pivotal 2-1 lead versus TNT's Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Jayson Castro, RR Pogoy and Calvin Oftana for him and his brothers in arms Robert Bolick, Javee Mocon, Enoch Valdez and Sean Anthony.
"Every possession counts and every point counts and you know it was evident in the final score (of Game 2)," said the explosive import. (OL)
