NLEX rallies, drives past Blackwater in comeback win

Kwame Alexander Photo by Tristan Rafael Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

NLEX brought out the gutsy tires as it overcame a disastrous first half and trumped Blackwater, 102-89, in overtime in the PBA Governor’s Cup on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Staring at a 17-point deficit, 62-45, lead in the third quarter, the Road Warriors revved up to fifth gear as they outscored the humbled Elite 45-22 in the fourth quarter and extra period.

Overtime belonged solely to the Road Warriors as they outscored the Elite 15-2 in the extra period.

Michael Madanly hit a booming three-pointer from the top of the key to give NLEX 96-89 lead with 2:47 remaining in the game.

With a bleak chance of going to the playoffs, NLEX head coach Boyet Fernandez left it to God’s hands on whatever happens.

“It’s not in our hands anymore,” Fernandez said as his team took a 3-7 win-loss record with a very slim chance of advancing.

“I do thank our players. We were down, they stepped up, they changed the momentum of the game. We went on a solid zone defense and pressed a little bit. We came back.”

NLEX drove to a 14-2 run in the closing moments of the fourth with Mark Cardona hitting on a difficult layup to give the Road Warriors an 87-85 lead with 47.4 seconds left in regulation.

Marcus Cousin, however, would ice two free throws with 0.9 seconds left that sent the game to overtime.

Kwame Alexander led four Road Warriors who scored in double figures as he finished with 26 points to go along 16 rebounds.

Madanly added 18 points while Cardona had 16 points for NLEX. Asi Taulava rebelled against Father Time as he finished with a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double.

Cousin led the 1-9 Elite with 29 points and 14 boards.