MANILA — LJay Gonzales erupted for a career-high 26 points and delivered crucial baskets in overtime as NLEX Road Warriors overcame the loss of import DeQuan Jones to outlast defending champion TNT Tropang 5G, 118-111, in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup on Tuesday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Gonzales rose to the occasion after Jones was stretchered out with a severe lower-leg injury in the third quarter, helping the Road Warriors survive TNT’s challenge and strengthen their hold near the top of the standings with a 7-1 record.
With the game tied at 109-all early in overtime, Anthony Semerad broke the deadlock with a three-pointer before Gonzales poured in four straight points to give NLEX a 116-109 cushion.
Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson pulled TNT within 111-116, but Semerad answered with an inside conversion with under a minute remaining to seal the Road Warriors’ seventh victory in eight games.
Gonzales complemented Robert Bolick Jr., who paced NLEX with 27 points, while also collecting six rebounds in his career-best performance.
The victory came at a cost for NLEX after Jones exited in the third quarter following a collision with TNT center Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser. The import suffered a severe lower-leg eversion and missed almost the entire second half.
Hollis-Jefferson led TNT with 30 points, while Rey Nambatac fired 28 as the Tropang 5G fell to an even 4-4 record.
Meanwhile, Converge FiberXers snapped a four-game losing streak with a dominant 120-103 victory over Terrafirma Dyip.
New import Cameron Clark made an immediate impact in his Converge debut, finishing with 22 points, five rebounds, three steals, two blocks and one assist as the FiberXers improved to 4-4.
Justin Arana posted a double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds, Calvin Abueva contributed 17 points, Juan Gomez de Liaño and Frederick Tungcab tallied 13 apiece, while Justine Baltazar chipped in 12.
Justine Strings paced Terrafirma with a double-double of 28 points and 11 rebounds, while Juan Miguel Tiongson added 21 markers. Geo Chiu scored 16, Joseph Eriobu had 12 and Maverick Ahanmisi contributed 10 as the Dyip slipped to 3-5./PN
