PBA: NLEX dodges Terrafirma scare after 23-point lead nearly slips away

Coming off the biggest win in franchise history, NLEX was pushed to the limit this time, hanging on to edge Terrafirma, 101-100, and stay unbeaten in the PBA Season 50 Governors' Cup on Sunday at the Ynares Montalban.

The Road Warriors, who opened the Jimmy Alapag era with a franchise-record 114-75 rout of Macau last Friday, built a lead as large as 23 points against the Dyip before having to fend off a furious fourth-quarter rally.

Thanks to a missed three-pointer from Terrafirma import Justin Strings in the final seconds, NLEX escaped with the victory—its second in as many games—to take the lead in Group A while the Dyip fell to 1-1.

DeQuan Jones, despite scoring only two points in the fourth quarter, starred for NLEX with 30 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three blocks while Schonny Winston and Robert Bolick chipped in 13 and 12 markers.

"I think you have to give a lot of credit to Terrafirma. I thought they played great. I have to do a better job, I don't think I did a very good job in the fourth quarter," Alapag said.

"We're able to sneak out with the win tonight."

NLEX blew the game wide open in the second quarter, knocking down five triples and a four-point shot courtesy of Kevin Alas to build a commanding 65-48 halftime lead over Terrafirma.

But that didn't take the fight out of the Dyip.

Terrafirma gave NLEX a taste of its own medicine when CJ Catapusan, Strings, and Maverick Ahanmisi combined for four triples that allowed the Dyip to pull within just six points early in the fourth, 97-91.

Bolick answered with a clutch four-point play over Tiongson to restore NLEX's double-digit lead, 101-91. It turned out to be the Road Warriors' final basket, as they went scoreless over the last 4:15 of the game.

Tiongson quickly atoned for the defensive lapse, knocking down a jumper and a floater while Ahanmisi drained a triple to cut the deficit to three, 101-98. Strings then made it a one-point game with a jumper with 42.7 seconds remaining.

Terrafirma had one last opportunity to steal the win, but Strings missed a potential game-winning three-pointer as time expired.

Both Ahanmisi and Tiongson finished with 19 points in the narrow loss while Strings tallied a double-double effort of 18 markers and 13 rebounds as their comeback fell just short.

The scores:

NLEX 101 - Jones 30, Winston 13, Bolick 12, Alas 9, Bahio 8, Semerad 8, Gonzales 5, Valdez 4, Torres 3, Rodger 3, Capulong 2, Ramirez 0, Gamboa 0, Nieto 0.

Terrafirma 100 - Ahanmisi 19, Tiongson 19, Strings 18, Bravo 9, Catapusan 9, Eriobu 7, Hanapi 6, Paraiso 6, Chiu 5, Umali 2, Mariano 0, Zaldivar 0.

Quarters: 32-29, 65-48, 90-67, 101-100.

—JMB, GMA News