May 27, 2017

NLEX makes an impression with a 116-114 stunner over Phoenix

ANTIPOLO City – NLEX pulled off another upset with a stunning 116-114 victory over Phoenix to end its PBA Commissioner’s Cup campaign on a winning note Saturday.

Behind import Wayne Chism and new acquisitions Alex Mallari and JR Quinahan, the Road Warriors raced to an early double digit lead, before surviving a late Fuel Masters rally sparked by the career-game of rookie Matthew Wright.

The Road Warriors led by as many as 74-51 midway in the third quarter.

Mallari had a team-high 22 points, Chism added 20, while Quinahan had 10 for NLEX, which finished the mid-season tournament winning their last two outings to end up with a 2-9 record.

Prior to the win, the Road Warriors also caught a big fish in the Alaska Aces, 100-92, during their last outing.

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“We just wanted to make a good last impression,” said winning coach Yeng Guiao after the Petron Saturday special game at the Ynares Sports Center here.

“We’re trying to gain as much confidence as we can. That’s the best we can do with the situation,” added the champion mentor, whose team lost its first nine games before finally pushing the trade button that netted them Mallari, Quinahan, and the injured Larry Fonacier.

The loss was definitely a heartbreaking one for Phoenix, which couldn’t overcome NLEX despite getting a career-high of 42 points from Wright.

The Fuel Masters had lost their last two matches against below .500 teams (Mahindra and NLEX) and hurt their chances of advancing outright to the quarterfinal playoffs.

Phoenix ended up with a 4-7 record and faces the prospect of missing the playoffs depending on the outcome of the remaining games by Alaska and Globalport, the two other teams in contention with the Fuel Masters for the eighth and last quarterfinals berth.

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