Road Warriors overcome early deficit, beat Hotshots

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NLEX shook off a slow start and outplayed Star down the stretch for a 106-99 win in the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Saturday night at Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.

Al Thornton recorded a double-double with a game-high 35 points and 10 rebounds while rookie Garvo Lanete scored a career-high 21 points for the Road Warriors, who battled back from an early 13-point deficit.

“I’m happy we won this game they (Star) played with a lot of intensity but the boys came back, they stepped up. Jonas took the crucial three, Kevin made the layups we came back from a humiliating loss from Phoenix,” said NLEX head coach Boyet Fernandez, referring to his squad’s 118-106 loss to Phoenix last Wednesday.

Lanete and Jonas Villanueva led a crucial 9-0 spurt that broke a 91-deadlock. Lanete’s open jumper from the right baseline put the Road Warriors ahead, 100-91, with 2:38 remaining.

Denzel Bowles willed the Hotshots back, scoring his team’s last eight points, including an emphatic put back dunk and two free throws that made it, 102-99, with 46.7 seconds left.

Villanueva left the door open for the Hotshots after he muffed a couple of free throws, but Star shot itself in the foot — failing to box out — that led to a game-sealing basket by Thornton, 104-99, with only three ticks to go.

Bowles had 30 points and 17 rebounds to lead Star, which reeled to a 0-3 start, despite taking a 21-8 advantage with four minutes left in the opening period.

Allein Maliksi and PJ Simon added 21 points each for the Hotshots.

The scores:

NLEX 106 – Thornton 35, Lanete 21, Taulava 14, J. Villanueva 12, Alas 10, Anthony 9, Enciso 3, Reyes 2,Borboran 0, Khobuntin 0, Wilson 0, E.Villanueva 0.

STAR 99 – Bowles 30, Maliksi 21, Simon 21, Yap 10, Pingris 9, Barroca 6, Melton 2, Torres 0, Sangalang 0, Reavis 0, Pascual 0.

Quarters: 22-26, 50-55, 77-82, 106-99