BLACKWATER’S Ogie Menor gets sandwiched by the double team of NLEX standouts KG Canaleta (left) and Mark Cardona. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
ASI TAULAVA scored 24 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and had five assists to lead NLEX to a 104-84 victory over Blackwater and get back on track in the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations at Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The 41-year-old center spearheaded an all-out effort on both ends by the Road Warriors, who snapped a three-game losing streak to rise to 3-4.
It was the eighth straight loss for the Elite, who were never in it as they failed to stop Taulava and the rest of the NLEX starters.
“We still have a long way to go, but if we continue what we’re doing in practice, we’ll be fine,” said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez. “It’s really more of believing in our system and game plan so we can keep improving.”
NLEX is out of the running for a place in the top two that carries automatic Final Four slots, and the key now is to finish in the upper half of the standings to be able to draw a light assignment in the quarterfinals.
The Road Warriors hit a total of 10 three-pointers with Jonas Villanueva accounting for four, including two straight in a torrid closing first half run that had NLEX taking a 58-41 lead into the third quarter.
Meanwhile, Alaska tries to bounce back from its first loss of the season today when the Aces battle in-form Globalport in a Petron Saturday Special game slated in Cagayan de Oro City.
That game is set at 5 p.m. with the Aces expected to come out more focused after taking an upset loss at the hands of Barako Bull on Tuesday night.
The Batang Pier, however, will be coming in fresh from the tournament’s first upset, a 105-97 decision of Talk ‘N Text where Terrence Romeo fired 30 points and was able to share the ball.
“It was a relief that we finally beat a title contender,” Globalport Pido Jarencio said, referring to the Talk ‘N Text game. “The important thing for the team to do right now is to keep on believing that we can do it.”
The scores:
First Game
NLEX 104—Taulava 24, Cardona 21, Villanueva J. 17, Ramos 16, Borboran 10, Villanueva E. 8, Canaleta 3, Hermida 2, Raymundo 2, Apinan 1, Camson 0, Arboleda W. 0, Arboleda H. 0, Baloria 0.
BLACKWATER 84—Menor 15, Celiz 11, Gamalinda 10, Faundo 9, Artadi 8, Heruela 6, Salvacion 6, Tiongson 4, Erram 4, Laure 4, Rodriguez 3, Timberlake 2, Nuyles 2, Ballesteros 0.
Quarters: 26-20, 58-41, 85-62, 104-84