Walker, Alas lift NLEX; Meralco triumphs

WITH its defense holding in the stretch and Henry Walker doing the damage on the other end, NLEX last night pulled out an 82-81 decision of Mahindra and put the Enforcers in a different kind of streak in the PBA Governors’ Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

Walker scored 17 points in the payoff frame and the Road Warriors survived going scoreless in the final two minutes with three crucial stops as NLEX won a second straight game to rise to a level 3-3.

Mahindra, after opening up with four consecutive victories—a franchise record conference start—has now lost its last two games and, from leading the tournament, dropped to a share of third spot with idle Barangay Ginebra.

Meralco got 30 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists from Allen Durham in a 105-90 victory over an import-less Blackwater crew in the second game.

Jared Dillinger fired 16 points and two others finished in twin digits for the Bolts, who rebounded from a stinging double overtime loss to GlobalPort on Sunday to improve to 4-3.

The Elite lost a fourth straight game in a cellar-dwelling 1-5 record.

Walker, who finished with 39 points, hit a perimeter jumper with 1:57 remaining which made it 82-79, before the Road Warriors turned to their defense in sealing the deal.

Also the hero in an 88-85 nipping of Star last week, Walker had a block on counterpart James White, with Kevin Alas coming up with the biggest defensive gem of the game when he stripped the Mahindra import of possession in the Enforcers’ final play.

“I credit this win to our defense,” NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez said. “We made three good stops in the last two minutes. I am hoping that this streak prepares us for back-to-back games next week.”

Walker was a virtual one-man wrecking ball for the Road Warriors as it was only Alas who finished in twin digits for Fernandez with 13.

Niño Canaleta paced the Enforcers with 23 points.

White, who made the final score what it was, hit two free throws with 1:41 remaining, wound up with 21 points and 15 rebounds.

Mahindra missed starting point guard LA Revilla because of a broken nose for the third straight game, and the man who started in his spot, Nico Elorde, wound up with five points, two assists and two boards.

NLEX tallied eight steals, with Alas finishing with a night-high four capped by that caper on White.
The scores:

First Game

NLEX 82—Walker 39, Alas 13, Villanueva J. 9, Taulava 8, Khobuntin 4, Villanueva E. 4, Baracael 3, Anthony 2, Akl 0, Forrester 0, Monfort 0, Soyud 0.

MAHINDRA 81—Canaleta 23, White 21, Digregorio 11, Pinto 7, Elorde 5, Taha 4, Jaime 3, Ramos 3, Aguilar 2, Yee 2, Ballesteros 0, Guinto 0, Agovida 0, Webb 0.
Quarters: 24-17, 36-30, 60-59, 82-81

Second Game

MERALCO 105—Durham 30, Dillinger 16, Faundo 10, Hodge 10, Alapag 8, Nabong 8, Newsome 7, Hugnatan 6, Amer 4, Buenafe 3, Uyloan 3, Chua 0, Guevarra 0.

BLACKWATER 90—Dela Cruz 23, Lastimosa 16, Cervantes 10, Gamalinda 7, Melano 6, Pascual 6, Miranda 5, Sumang 4, Tiongson 4, Canada 3, Golla 2, Qahwash 2, Sena 2, Reyes 0.
Quarters: 27-16, 52-37, 78-67, 105-90