WITH bombs from afar, NLEX sprang out of the rut and back in contention with a 108-94 drubbing of Phoenix Super LPG in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo Sunday.
Robert Bolick snapped out of a personal slump, exploding for 26 points, including a four-ball and two three-pointers, plus nine assists and five rebounds as he stood as the lead force in the Road Warriors' successful effort to end a five-game losing skein.
It was NLEX' first win after successive losses to Barangay Ginebra, Converge, Magnolia, Meralco and TNT. The Road Warriors went on a long skid after their last win over the San Miguel Beermen, 104-99, on Dec. 8.
Michael Watkins produced a huge double-double with 22 points and 18 rebounds while Jonnel Policarpio, Robert Herndon and Anthony Semerad chipped in 17, 15 and 11 points, respectively, for NLEX which rose to joint ninth with Magnolia at 4-6, now just half-game behind eight-running San Miguel Beer (4-5).
Coach Jong Uichico's troops, however, have to keep going and sweep their last two games against Rain or Shine and Eastern for a possible crack at the playoffs.
Sponsored content: The Fuel Masters suffered a second straight defeat and got stuck at 11th place at 3-7. Their last two games are Blackwater Tuesday and TNT on Friday.
Bolick, Herdon, Semerad, Xyrus Torres and Brandon Ramirez combined for 12 three-pointers and two connections from the extended rainbow arc in a torrid shooting dismantling the Phoenix squad which led, 48-45, at the half.
With clutch hits, the Road Warriors stemmed the tide in the third and carried over a 13-point lead, 86-73, in the final quarter.
The Fuel Masters chipped away but there's no stopping the Road Warriors from checking their skid, negating Donovan Smith's game-high 32 points on top of 14 rebounds.
NLEX went 12-of-32 from the three-point line and 2-of-4 from the four-point area as against Phoenix's one four-ball and four treys. (SB)
Sponsored content: The scores:
NLEX 108 - Bolick 26, Watkins 22, Policarpio 17, Herndon 15, Semerad 11, Torres 9, Ramirez 5, Nieto 3, Mocon 0.
Phoenix 94 - Smith 36, Rivero 13, Perkins 8, Muyang 8, Tio 7, Tuffin 6, Garcia 5, Jazul 5, Alejandro 3, Ballungay 2, Manganti 1, Salado 0, Camacho 0, Ular 0, Daves 0, Verano 0.
Quarterscores: 25-17, 45-48, 86-73, 108-94
