Road Warriors avoid collapse, take down Fuel Masters

In a thrilling encounter at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, Aug. 25, NLEX nearly let a substantial first-half advantage slip away but ultimately rallied to secure a 100-95 victory over Phoenix in Group B action of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup.

The Road Warriors appeared to be in complete control as they built a commanding 23-point lead at halftime. However, the Fuel Masters mounted a determined comeback in the latter part of the game, making the contest thrilling as it approached its climax.

At one point, NLEX found itself trailing by four in the closing stages but demonstrated resilience and focus. Crucial contributions from import Myke Henry, Anthony Semerad, and Robbie Herndon helped the team regain its momentum, enabling them to clinch their second consecutive win of the tournament.

Henry was particularly impressive, scoring 21 of his game-high 37 points in the first half. His most critical bucket came late in the fourth quarter when he executed an and-1 play, narrowing the gap to 92-93 after a sudden surge of momentum from RR Garcia’s deep shot that had given Phoenix the lead.

That pivotal moment seemed to awaken the Road Warriors, who quickly reclaimed the lead in the closing seconds. In a defining play, Henry found Herndon wide open in the right corner for a three-pointer that effectively sealed the win.

In addition to his scoring, Henry contributed significantly across the board, tallying nine rebounds, five assists, four steals, and a block. Semerad added 13 points, while Robert Bolick excelled with an all-around performance, recording 11 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists.

Phoenix, much like in their earlier match against San Miguel, struggled to execute in clutch moments. Jjay Alejandro’s attempts to nail two crucial four-pointers in the dying seconds fell short, denying the Fuel Masters a chance to extend the game.

Garcia turned in a standout performance for Phoenix, registering 18 points, including two key four-pointers, along with four assists, displaying flashes of his former brilliance.

Javee Mocon and Jason Perkins contributed 12 and 13 points, respectively, effectively anchoring the paint during a scorching second-half surge while import Jayveous Mckinnis rested on the bench.

Despite Mckinnis’ solid double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds, it was not enough to shift the tide, leaving Phoenix winless with a 0-2 record in the tournament.