[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’NLEX eases past Alaska, takes 1st Govs’ Cup win ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
MANILA – NLEX Road Warriors did not have a hard time taking its first victory in the PBA Governors’ Cup as it waylaid Alaska Aces 112-104 in the opener at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Import Aaron Fuller led the way with 30 points and 20 rebounds for Road Warriors, which joined Phoenix Fuel Masters on top of the standings 1-0 Wednesday night.
Kevin Alas added 20 markers and 8 rebounds while Juan Miguel Tiongson contributed 13 points for Road Warriors, which hopes to recover from a forgetful campaign in the Commissioner’s Cup where it only won two games.
“We’re really prepared to compete this conference,” Road Warriors head coach Yeng Guiao said. “We practiced the earliest and brought in our import earliest. It’s a validation of our preparation and hard work.”
LaDontae Henton top-scored with 27 points while Simon Enciso and Calvin Abueva added 21 and 14 points, respectively, for Aces, which tied KIA Picanto 0-1.
The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for Aces as it was the franchise’s ninth consecutive defeat dating back in the Commissioner’s Cup, where it started with 4-0.
Holding on to a slim 56-55 lead at the half, Road Warriors had a strong start in the second half behind Alas to build an 8-point lead. But Aces quickly erased this and snatched the lead early in the fourth quarter.
After a seesaw battle, the game was tied at 94 before Tiongson and Alas sparked a huge 18-10 scoring run for Road Warriors to suddenly pull away and build a lead as high as 12 points with over a minute left in the game./PN
SCORES
NLEX 112 – Fuller 30, Alas 20, Tiongson 13, Quinahan 9, Rios 8, Taulava 8, Mallari 7, Al-Hussaini 6, Soyud 6, Fonacier 3, Lastimosa 2, Baracael 0, Monfort 0, Ighalo 0, J. Villanueva 0
ALASKA 104 – Henton 27, Enciso 21, Abueva 12, Banchero 11, Thoss 10, Manuel 9, Casio 7, Racal 5, Dela Cruz 2, Magat 0, Exciminiano 0, Mendoza 0, Baclao 0
QUARTERS – 23-24, 56-55, 83-79, 112-104
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
