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| Robert Bolick delivered for NLEX. PBA Images |
PASIG—A late hard foul by Marcellus Earlington turned out to be pivotal, favoring NLEX as the team held off Phoenix 97-92 at the start of the PBA Governors' Cup quarterfinals on Sunday night at the Ynares Center 1 in Antipolo.
Needing to foul to stop the clock with his team down by two, Earlington did so against Enoch Valdez with 15.4 seconds left.
However, Valdez grimaced in pain after the foul, and the referees ruled the foul as flagrant, giving LJay Gonzales two free throws plus ball possession for the Road Warriors.
Gonzales split his charities, and Deonte Burton went 2-for-2 from the foul line to up their lead to five.
Earlington tried to atone for himself, but he missed his three-point attempt, and time ran out on the Fuel Masters.
Burton led NLEX, now 1-0 up in the best-of-five crossover playoffs, with 27 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, three steals, and three blocks.
Robert Bolick added 20 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
Ricci Rivero made 24 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, while Kai Ballungay added 20 points, eight rebounds, and one block for Phoenix.
Earlington struggled all game long, only going 6-for-19 from the field for 14 points with six turnovers, although he also had 13 rebounds.
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