Mga laro ngayon:
Smart Araneta Coliseum
3 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Magnolia
5:30 p.m. – Phoenix vs Ginebra
NAIPOSTE ng NLEX Road Warriors ang kanilang ika-4 na sunod na panalo nang durugin ang Terrafirma Dyip, 116-86, sa PBA Governors’ Cup nitong Sabado sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Nagsalansan si import KJ McDaniels ng 34 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals at 3 blocks, habang nagdagdag si Kevin Alas ng 20 points.
Napantayan ng NLEX ang kanilang best-ever 4-0 start na naitala sa 2017 edition ng parehong torneo.
Gayunman ay sinabi ni winning coach Yeng Guiao na hindi pa ito ang panahon para magdiwang.
“Cautious optimism kami,” aniya.
“It’s a good sign, but we don’t want to be looking at ourselves like we’re in there and we’re contending. We’re just trying to get better every day. That’s the mentality,” dagdag ni Guiao.
“If we can push this as far as we can, let’s see where it gets us.”
Ang pagkatalo na nalasap sa kabila ng 27-point, 11-rebound performance ni Antonio Hester ay kasunod ng 87-114 kabiguan ng Terrafirma sa Magnolia Ang Pambansang Manok, dahilan para mahulog ito sa 1-3 kartada.
Naipuwersa ng Dyip ang NLEX sa 11 lead changes at 8 deadlocks, ang huli ay sa 57-all.
Subalit ilang sandali makaraang kumana si McDaniels ng pitong sunod na puntos para simulan ang breakaway ng NLEX, nagtamo si Alex Cabagnot ng hinihinalang left Achilles injury matapos madulas at inilabas, may 1:57 ang nalalabi sa period.
Sa pagkawala ng veteran guard at sa pagkakalagay sa foul trouble ni Hester, tuluyang kumulapso ang Terrafirma at nakuha ng NLEX ang momentum, kung saan lumamang ito ng hanggang 31 points, 116-85.
“They suffered an unlucky break when na-sprain yata si Alex Cabagnot. Until such event they were in the game,” ani Guiao. “Their import was in foul trouble and I think napagod din siya. Pero they were actually giving us trouble for three quarters.”
Dahil sa one-sided na laro ay ipinasok na ni Guiao si 48-year-old Asi Taulava, na agad na bumanat ng tres.
“We were just looking for the opportunity to bring him into the game,” sabi ni Guiao. “We’re just giving him the respect that he deserves. He’s an iconic personality in the PBA. It’s just a way to appreciate what he has done for the franchise, for the Filipino fans. CLYDE MARIANO
Iskor:
NLEX (116) – McDaniels 34, Alas 20, Oftana 14, Rosales 10, Trollano 9, Quinahan 8, Paniamogan 5, Semerad 4, Magat 4, Galanza 3, Taulava 3, Cruz 2, Ighalo 0.
Terrafirma (86) – Hester 27, Tiongson 15, Adams 7, Pascual 7, Batiller 7, Ganuelas-Rosser 7, Cabagnot 5, Ramos 5, Melton 3, Camson 3, Calvo 0, Gabayni 0, Balagasay 0.
QS: 23-20, 47-47, 77-66, 116-86
