STOPPING a five-game slid the last time out, NLEX rolled to a second straight win and boosted its bid to salvage a PBA Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals berth with a 122-110 repulsing of Rain or Shine at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo Saturday.
Robert Bolick followed up a 26-point sizzler last time with a 40-point explosion, leading the Road Warriors to the key win that forged a tie at eighth place with the San Miguel Beermen with their identical 5-6 win-loss cards.
Meanwhile, the Elasto Painters got stalled at win No. 6 and bombed out of the running for a twice-to-beat bonus in the quarterfinals after suffering a second straight defeat and fourth loss in their last five outings.
Import Michael Watkins bucked early fouls and produced 25 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks, helping the Road Warriors to a second win in a row and enhance its playoff hopes with a game left in the single-round-robin elims.
Coach Jong Uichico's chargers shoot for an outright shot at the last quarters spot as they close out their elims stint versus the Eastern dribblers Wednesday over at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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With their win over the Elasto Painters, the Road Warriors caught the Beermen at eighth spot. Technically, they're the temporary eighth placers by virtue of the win-over-the-other rule versus San Miguel.
NLEX drubber San Miguel, 104-99, in their elims collision.
Still entertaining hopes of gaining a piece of eighth at the end of the elims is idle Magnolia at 4-6.
But the Road Warriors have gained the inside track in the race with their dominant 12-point win over the E-Painters.
Anthony Semerad, Xyrus Torres, Kevin Alas and Javee Mocon had their significant help with their double-digit outputs as pushed their bid while stalling ROS' own quest.
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The Road Warriors took the opening quarter at 29-23 and stayed in control all throughout to the finish. (SB)
The scores:
NLEX 122 - Bolick 40, Watkins 25, Semerad 17, Torres 12, Alas 11, Mocon 10, Policarpio 4, Ramirez 3, Herndon 0.
Rain or Shine 110 - Thompson 26, Clarito 20, Nocum 16, Santillan 12, Datu 10, Caracut 8, Tiongson 4, Belga 4, Ildefonso 4, Lemetti 6, Norwood 0.
Quarterscores: 29-23, 65-48, 86-79, 122-110
