[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-desktop-hide=” av-medium-hide=” av-small-hide=” av-mini-hide=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=”]
[/av_textblock]
[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=’Ravena leads NLEX cruise past GlobalPort in PH Cup’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
MANILA – NLEX Road Warriors headed to its second straight win in the PBA Philippine Cup after holding off GlobalPort Batang Pier 115-104 yesterday at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Ilonggo rookie Road Warrior Kiefer Ravena posted 20 points. JR Quinahan had 19 points and nine rebounds, while Larry Fonacier and Juami Tiongson had 12 and 10 points, respectively.
“The best Christmas gift to our fans and to ourselves is to win on Christmas Day. Malungkot ang matalo,” said NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao. “It’s a big break for us rin that Terrence (Romeo) is out for GlobalPort.”
Road Warriors surged to a 17-10 start in the match with hits from Kevin Alas, Cyrus Baguio, Fonacier, and Quinahan. Batang Pier responded with a run from Stanley Pringle to tie the count at 25-all.
NLEX jumped to a 38-28 lead in the second quarter on triples by Asi Taulava and Tiongson. GlobalPort quickly answered with a run to tie the count at 45-all but 5 straight points by Jansen Rios gave Road Warriors a 50-45 halftime lead.
From a seesaw battle early in the third, Road Warriors charged 69-57 on hits by Ravena, Quinahan and Alfonso Gotladera. Batang Pier rallied to come close 71-76 but hits by Alas and Tiongson gave Road Warriors an 84-76 lead at the end of the period.
NLEX maintained the double-digit edge in the fourth with inside baskets from Quinahan. GlobalPort went on a run to come to within 95-99 but triples by Fonacier and Ravena raised Road Warriors’ lead to its largest at 115-100.
Pringle finished with 33 points and 10 rebounds while Sean Anthony and Jonathan Grey had 19 and 14 points, respectively, for Batang Pier, which tied with Phoenix Fuel Masters, TNT KaTropa, Blackwater Elite, Kia Picanto, and Alaska Aces (0-1 win-loss)./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
