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MANILA, Philippines—NLEX earned the distinction of being the first team to use the experimental Coaches Challenge during a losing cause against Blackwater in the opener of the PBA On Tour exhibition series on Sunday in Caloocan City.
Coach Frankie Lim opted to challenge a call with 3:22 left in the fourth quarter of the contest won by Blackwater, 93-88, after NLEX’s Sean Anthony was called for a loose ball foul while battling Joshua Torralba for the rebound.
Referees deemed the challenge as successful after a video review, and Torralba was called for the foul instead which prompted Anthony to make both free throws.
The Road Warriors cut the deficit to 88-83, but the Bossing held on for the win behind the late heroics of RK Ilagan.
The Coaches Challenge is being implemented for the two-month series to see if it can be used for the league’s 48th season in October.
Teams have one challenge per half, provided they still have full timeouts remaining.
Among the things which can be challenged if fouls are in the act of shooting or if it is a sideline inbound, fouls or traveling infractions, flopping, eight-second violation, backcourt violation, timeouts and held ball situations, out-of-bounds and the remaining seconds of the shot clock.
Mike Ayonayon scored 16 points while Rey Suerte had 14 while Ilagan had nine points, eight rebounds and four assists for the Bossing.
Assistant coach Joe Silva called the shots with the newly-appointed Jeffrey Cariaso having commitments in the United States.
Anthony was one of four players in double figures with 18 points while grabbing eight rebounds for NLEX.
The Scores:
BLACKWATER 93 — Ayonayon 16, Suerte 14, Sena 9, Ilagan 9, Hill 8, Torralba 8, Ular 6, DiGregorio 5, Amer 5, Taha 5, Publico 4, McCarthy 3, Banal 1.
NLEX 88 — Anthony 18, Trollano 15, Galanza 13, Fajardo 10, Alas 8, Rosales 7, Doliguez 5, Rangel 4, Miranda 3, Gabo 3, Pascual 2, Celda 0.
Quarters: 23-16, 49-36, 74-69, 93-88.