NLEX import Al Thornton vs two defenders. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
NLEX import Al Thornton, safe to say, really has Barangay Ginebra’s number.
The talented Thornton scorched the Gin Kings with 50 points—less than a year after dropping the same on Ginebra—to lead the Road Warriors to a 114-112 overtime victory in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations at Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.
Thornton scored 15 points in the fourth period and had 10 in extra time to lead the Road Warriors to a share of the early lead with Tropang TNT, Meralco and Mahindra.
Using a total team effort to make up for import Augustus Gilchrist’s mediocre performance, Mahindra meanwhile turned back GlobalPort, 111-98, in the first game to join the pileup at 1-0.
A former member of the NBA’s All-Rookie Team, Thornton matched his PBA career-high and flustered the Kings much in the same way he did in a 96-90 overtime win last year.
“We won this game because of none other than Al Thornton,” NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez said of his import, who is coming off stem cell therapy last Dec. 23 in the United States.
Regulation ended at 97-all after Thornton missed an ill-advised three-pointer, giving the Kings a chance to win it with 1.7 seconds left.
Mark Caguioa missed a wide open trey, before Thornton took over in overtime.
The scores:
First Game
MAHINDRA 111—Canaleta 20, Revilla 17, Digregorio 14, Dehesa 12, Yee 11, Gilchrist 10, Guinto 10, Ramos 9, Pinto 5, Jaime 3.
GLOBALPORT 98—Romeo 41, Williams 13, Pringle 12, Mamaril 9, Jensen 6, Taha 6, Yeo 4, Semerad 3, Kramer 2, Sumang 2, Maierhofer 0, Pena 0, Uyloan 0.
Quarters: 31-23, 60-47, 82-76, 111-98
Second Game
NLEX 114—Thornton 50, Alas 21, Anthony 15, J. Villanueva 12, Enciso 6, Lanete 3, Taulava 3, Khobuntin 2, E. Villanueva 2, Arboleda 0, Borboran 0, Cardona 0, Reyes 0, Rios 0.
BRGY. GINEBRA 112—Jeffers 31, Devance 18, Mercado 15, Caguioa 10, Aguilar 9, Tenorio 9, Marcelo 8, Ellis 5, Thompson 5, Helterbrand 2, Cruz 0.
Quarters: 21-22, 41-51, 73-73, 97-97, 114-112
