PBA: NLEX erases 21-point deficit, sends San Miguel reeling anew

Al Thornton shoots over Arizona Reid. PBA Images/Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines — NLEX stared at a 21-point hole before Al Thornton took over and willed the Road Warriors past the San Miguel Beermen, 100-93, in the 2015 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Tuesday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Thornton scored 12 of his 30 in the final six minutes including a long jumper over Beermen import Arizona Reid that made it, 95-88, with 1:03 left.

“Again as I have said, it’s the players who win ball games for us and I’d like to give them credit for how they played in the second half,” said NLEX head coach Boyet Fernandez. “There effort was unbelievable.”

The 31-year-old Thornton fired 15 points in the fourth quarter alone while Reid had 27 points through three quarters but was held scoreless in the fourth period when NLEX made its rally.

The Beermen looked well on their way to a second straight victory after taking a 64-43 lead midway through the third quarter.

The Road Warriors were still behind by 17 at the start of the fourth quarter but it was only a matter of time before they regrouped and got their acts together.

Five unanswered points by Mark Borboran gave NLEX its first lead, 86-85, since scoring the first points of the game. San Miguel quickly regained the lead on a triple by Chris Lutz before NLEX went on a 7-0 run to put the game away.

The Road Warriors, whose comeback fell short in a heartbreaking loss to Talk ‘N Text last Friday, improved to 2-4 while sending the Beermen back to the drawing board having lost five of its six games.

Asi Taulava had a quiet 20 points and seven rebounds for NLEX while reigning MVP June Mar Fajardo only had 10 points and nine rebounds for SMB.