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| Kevin Alas played his best game in a long while for NLEX. PBA Images |
PASAY—Robert Bolick made a successful PBA Season 50 debut, although NLEX needed to stave off a late run from Phoenix for an 87-81 win on Wednesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
The Road Warriors were on the verge of pulling away from the Fuel Masters after opening an 83-76 lead with 1:41 left.
However, Tyler Tio hit a middle-range jumper, while Ricci Rivero followed up with a triple to cut the lead down to two, 83-81, with 1:03 remaining.
Kevin Alas, though, hit a jumper of his own in the next play to bring the lead back up to four, 85-81, with 42 seconds left.
Alas almost blew his clutch moment when he turned the ball over after forcing a Tio miss, but Anthony Semerad stepped up and stole the ball from Tio in the next play, leading to two free throws from Bolick.
Alas led NLEX, which joined a four-way tie at the top at 2-1, with 26 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Semerad and JB Bahio each added 11 points with the former also grabbing 10 rebounds.
Bolick, back in action after spending some time off after his father's passing, had a quiet nine points, missing all of his six outside shots, but he dished out nine assists to flirt with a double-double alongside seven rebounds and two steals.
Rivero had 22 points, six rebounds, two steals, and one block, while Kai Ballungay added 12 points, 11 rebounds, and two assists for Phoenix, which fell to a five-way tie at the bottom at 1-2.
The Scores:
NLEX 87 – Alas 26, Bahio 11, Semerad 11, Torres 10, Bolick 9, Fajardo 7, Nieto 7, Ramirez 4, Valdez 2, Rodger 0, Mocon 0, Policarpio 0
PHOENIX 81 – Rivero 22, Perkins 15, Ballungay 12, Tuffin 9, Tio 7, Kwekuteye 6, Caperal 5, Nelle 3, Manganti 2, Jazul 0, Daves 0, Santos 0, Escandor 0
QUARTERS: 14-17, 45-30, 70-57, 87-81
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