PBA: NLEX survives TNT rally this time, knots quarters series

NLEX import DeQuan Jones during a PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals game against TNT Tropang Giga. –PBA IMAGES

SANTA ROSA, Laguna — NLEX played with poise down the stretch on Friday night to escape TNT by the skin of its teeth, 93-90, and send their PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals series to a 1-1 deadlock.

The Road Warriors kept it together as the Tropang Giga went frosty toward the end of the payoff frame at Sta. Rosa Multipurpose Sports Complex here.

“I can’t recall anything,” head coach Jong Uichico said of the frantic final moments with a chuckle. “All I can remember was that it was hard for both teams—that they had to grind for each possession … we had to do so many things on defense just to stay in the game.”

Import DeQuan Jones had 38 points and 12 rebounds to show the way for NLEX which had to fend off some late fightbacks from counterpart Rondae Hollis-Jefferson who ultimately had 22 points and 22 rebounds in the losing effort.

Robert Bolick. Jr., the league’s newly-minted Scoring Champion, had 16 points after being shackled to just 10 in the series opener.

“It’s a confidence builder for us knowing we can keep up with TNT,” Uichico said of the defending champions, who they will try to put in a 2-1 series deficit this coming Sunday at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Jayson Castro and Roger Pogoy had 19 points each while Rey Nambatac chipped in 11 for the Tropang Giga.