Road Warriors claim Pool B lead share after nipping Fuel Masters

MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Using a cycling term, a lead pack has been formed in Group B after the first week of the PBA Governors’ Cup with NLEX joining Rain or Shine atop the standings at 2-0.

The Road Warriors’ 100-95 escape act over the Phoenix Fuel Masters on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum allowed them to set the pace with the Elasto Painters, with the San Miguel Beermen potentially joining them in the main group.

San Miguel was playing Blackwater at press time, with the Bossing showing up with an all-local lineup after giving import Ricky Ledo the pink slip, his short stint doomed by miserable shooting in the previous two losses that left coach Jeffrey Cariaso and management in dismay.

Cariaso said the Bossing are in talks with Cameron Clark to be Ledo’s replacement. Clark saw action for the Road Warriors and the Beermen in the 2022 and 2023 versions of the same conference.

While Blackwater is figuring out a way to solve its import woes, NLEX is happy to see Myke Henry perform to expectations.

Henry had 37 points, nine rebounds and four assists and was mainly responsible for NLEX’s hot start that resulted in a 44-21 lead in the second quarter.

“That’s why they brought me here, to carry the offense,” said Henry, who had a brief stint with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies in 2018.

The 31-year-old scored 21 points in the first two periods that ended with the Road Warriors ahead, 51-30.

Phoenix dropped to 0-2 after another close defeat, though not as similar to Wednesday’s 111-107 decision to San Miguel where it kept things close almost throughout that contest.

Two four-pointers

The Fuel Masters slowly chipped away at the deficit, and with veteran guard RR Garcia knocking down two four-point shots, were even able to take the lead multiple times in the final period.

Nonetheless, timely decisions like Robbie Herndon’s three-pointer that made it a 99-95 lead in the dying seconds and stops that saw Phoenix attempt a pair of forced shots from the four-point line allowed coach Jong Uichico to stay unbeaten since taking over the NLEX sidelines.

Phoenix and Blackwater are below Barangay Ginebra, which took a 73-64 loss to Rain or Shine in Candon, Ilocos Sur on Saturday.

Isaac Go, among the pickups in an offseason trade with Terrafirma, rookie RJ Abarrientos and Scottie Thompson, shot a combined 3-of-39 in the Gin Kings defeat.

Ginebra is out to bounce back against San Miguel on Tuesday at the Big Dome in the first of their two meetings in the group stage.

Teams within their own groups will face each other twice to determine the top four teams that get to play in the crossover quarterfinals. INQ