PBA: NLEX frustrates Blackwater with come-from-behind win

NLEX import Earl Clark vs Blackwater’s Cameron Krutwig. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines–NLEX held Blackwater scoreless during the critical part of the fourth quarter to complete a 105-102 comeback victory on Friday and a 2-0 start in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Down 97-90 less than four minutes left, the Road Warriors scored 14 straight points with Kevin Alas accounting for five of those to come away with another win in the final half of Adonis Tierra’s interim tenure on the sidelines.

Import Earl Clark had 38 points and 25 rebounds for NLEX and can now focus on having Frankie Lim calling the shots full time.

Despite Lim being tapped to succeed Yeng Guiao, Tierra was given the task of handling the Road Warriors for the first two games that included last week’s 96-90 win over their former coach and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

“The good thing about getting these two tough wins is that the willingness and focus of the players were always there,” said Tierra.

Don Trollano and Alas scored 18 and 16 while rookie Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser registered four points, two rebounds and two blocks in his first game against his former team.

It was a stinging loss for Blackwater after leading by a high of 16 and had multiple double-digit leads in the fourth.

A basket by import Cameron Krutwig gave Blackwater that 97-90 lead, 3:58 to go, before the Bossing’s offense went sour and their defense allowed the Road Warriors to snatch the victory.

Baser Amer’s 26 points and Krutwig’s 18 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists went for naught as the Bossing fell to 1-2.

The scores

NLEX 105 — Clark 38, Trollano 18, Alas 16, Nieto 10, Chua 9, Rosales 5, Ganuelas-Rosser 4, Miranda 3, Varilla 2, Ighalo 0.

BLACKWATER 102 — Amer 26, Krutwig 18, McCarthy 17, Ular 10, Banal 9, Taha 7, Jackson 5, Suerte 5, Rosario 3, Go 2, Ebona 0, Sena 0.

Quarters: 20-26, 45-56, 72-81, 105-102.