PBA: NLEX seizes solo top spot with win over slumping Blackwater

NLEX now sits alone at the top after eking out a 99-88 win against Blackwater in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup on Wednesday at the Ynares Center Antipolo. 

The Road Warriors got a balanced attack from JB Bahio, Xyrus Torres, Robert Bolick, and Kevin Alas as they broke five-way ties among teams featuring 3-1 cards as they soared to solo top spot. 

Bahio flaunted his offense with 23 points laced with six rebounds and two assists while Torres and Bolick churned out 18 and 15 markers, respectively, with the latter also posting 12 assists and five boards as they captured their third straight win. 

The Bossing, on the other hand, were sent to their third loss in a row for a 1-3 record. 

Up 47-37 at the half, the Road Warriors encountered a bump on the road in the third period after the Bossing erased the double-digit deficit and pulled to within four following a huge David Murrell triple, 65-69. 

NLEX ended the frame still ahead by five, 66-71, thanks to a Javee Mocon layup. 

NLEX went on a scoring spree to open the payoff period with Brandon Ramirez hitting a triple to instigate an 8-0 rampage for a 79-66 cushion. 

Bahio then poured seven straight points, including a three-point play off a dime from Bolick as they erected an 87-74 cushion with 5:55 left to go. Bolick and Torrez would knock down a three-pointer each before Alas and Bahio provided the finishing kick.

"We always have that lull in a certain game. May lull palagi kami. So you know, we've got to find out why there is a lull somewhere in the game," NLEX head coach Jong Uichico said. 

"In the past games laging nakakahabol ang kalaban and then we had to overcome that. Maybe we should be able to find out bakit may lull kami."

Sedrick Barefield paced Blackwater with 19 points, seven rebounds, and five assists while rookie Dalph Panopio chipped in 12 markers, five boards, and two dimes. 

—JMB, GMA Integrated News