JAY R. GOTERA
Saudi Gazette
MANILA — The NLEX Road Warriors picked up their second win in three outings, coming from behind to run over the hapless Star Hotshots, 106-99, with a huge fourth-quarter run in a PBA Commissioner’s Cup road game in Binan, Laguna, Philippines, Saturday night.
NBA veteran Al Thornton once again led the Road Warriors, posting 35 points and 10 rebounds. He was ably supported by rookie Garvo Lanete who played his finest game yet for NLEX, firing 21 points, including three triples.
Evergreen center Asi Taulava finished with a double-double 14 points and 12 rebounds. Two other Road Warriors scored in double digits with Jonas Villanueva getting 12 markers and Kevin Alas adding 10 points, including a clutch basket with a minute left that doused a last-ditch Star rally.
Import Denzel Bowles led Star with 30 points. Resurgent Allein Maliksi and Peter June Simon added 21 points apiece while James Yap chipped in 10 markers.
The two teams fought on even terms in the first three quarters before NLEX exploded a 29-17 bomb in the final period.
Star remained winless in three games. Incidentally, the two other San Miguel-owned teams—Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer—still had to break into the win column as well. All three teams are in the bottom of the standings.
Mahindra 102, SMB 96
The Mahindra Enforcers bounced back from a loss to Blackwater Elite last Sunday with an emphatic victory over recently crowned Philippine Cup champion San Miguel Beermen, 102-96.
The Enforcers pounced on a team still on celebratory mood, using their withering firepower from long range to nail their second victory in three starts.
Aldrech Ramos was the hottest Enforcer of them all, firing 26 points, 17 of them in the second quarter. He was nearly immaculate from beyond the three-point arc, hitting 6-of-7 tries.
Cat-quick pint-sized point guard LA Revilla added 19 points, six rebounds and four assists while import Augustus Gilchrist had a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds.
KG Canaleta also sparkled for Mahindra, scoring 15 points, including three consecutive treys in the fourth quarter that turned back a fierce SMB comeback.
Karl Dehesa chipped in 10 points and a team-high five assists.
SMB import Tyler Wilkerson debuted in the PBA with 29 points. Arwind Santos scored 17 while Marcio Lassiter had 14.
June Mar Fajardo played limited minutes and only produced 8 points. SMB missed the services of starting point guard Alex Cabagnot who was out due to a family matter.
After Canaleta’s flurry of three-pointers late in the final quarter, the Enforcers surged ahead, 93-86.
Wilkerson got SMB back to within three, 96-93, with a three-point play.
But Ramos drilled two free throws and Revilla split his own charities after getting poked in the eye on a rebound play, as the Enforcers regained a six-point lead, 99-93, with 1:14 remaining en route to victory.
Games Sunday: Phoenix Fuel Masters (1-0) vs. Meralco Bolts (3-0) and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (1-1) vs. Barangay Ginebra Kings (0-2).
