MANILA – NLEX Road Warriors survived a tough challenge from Converge FiberXers for a 107-103 victory in the 2023-2024 PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Already ahead by double-digits in the second quarter, the Road Warriors suddenly found themselves down 66-74 midway in the third quarter behind the hot shooting of FiberXers import Jamil Wilson.
The Road Warriors managed to cut it to 80-81 heading into the fourth quarter before they continued their run and take a 98-88 lead following back-to-back three-pointers from rookie Enoch Valdez.
Converge threatened anew at 97-100 late in the fourth quarter behind connections from Wilson, but NLEX answered with baskets from Deandre Williams-Baldwin and Ritchie Rodger to secure the victory.
Williams-Baldwin made his Road Warriors debut with near triple-double numbers of 22 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists, while Valdez chipped in a career-high of 19 markers.
Robert Bolick Jr. had a double-double of 15 points and 11 assists, Rodger and Sean Anthony ended up with 14 markers apiece, while Negrense Jhan Nermal contributed 12 markers for NLEX.
With a 4-6 win-loss record, the Road Warriors kept their quarterfinals hopes alive after they forced a deadlock with sister team TNT Tropang Giga for eighth to ninth place in the standings.
The Road Warriors will still have a final game in their schedule against defending champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings on Saturday where they need to win to force at least a playoff for the remaining quarterfinals seat.
Wilson finished with 50 points, including four three-point conversions, to go with 14 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks as the FiberXers dropped to last place with 1-9 win-loss slate.
Justin Arana had a near double-double numbers of 19 points and nine rebounds, while rookie Inand Fornillos contributed a career-high of eight points and six rebounds in the loss./PN
BOX SCORE:
NLEX 107 – Williams-Baldwin 22, Valdez 19, Bolick 15, Anthony 14, Rodger 14, Nermal 12, Miranda 6, Herndon 5, Semerad 0, Salado 0, Pascual 0, Fajardo 0.
CONVERGE 103 – Wilson 50, Arana 19, Fornillos 8, Nieto 5, Melecio 5, Stockton 4, Vigan-Fleming 4, Wong 4, Winston 2, Maagdenberg 2, Delos Santos 0, Santos 0, Ambohot 0.
Quarterscores: 25-22, 51-43, 80-81, 107-103.
