By ADRIAN STEWART CO
NLEX Road Warriors showed steadiness in the endgame to beat NorthPort Batang Pier, 121-112, in the 2022-2023 PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City on Saturday night, January 28.
Jonathon Simmons spearheaded the offense with 33 points, including eight in the fourth, to go with eight rebounds and five assists as the Road Warriors tied sister team TNT Tropang Giga at 2-0.
Celedonio Trollano chipped in 23 markers, Kevin Alas produced 18 points, while Sean Anthony and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser contributed 16 and 12 markers, respectively, for the Road Warriors.
Engaged in a tight contest with the Batang Pier, the Road Warriors seized control with a telling 8-0 salvo, capped by back-to-back hits by Anthony and Ganuelas-Rosser to secure the win.
“I think we’re a tough team right now compared to last conference,” Road Warriors head coach Frankie Lim said.
“I can see a lot of toughness in players and that’s a good sign,” he added.
Marcus Weathers finished with 30 points, with 14 in the fourth quarter, Arvin Tolentino added 23 markers, while Ilonggo Paul Zamar and Joshua Munzon had 15 and 12, as the Batang Pier slumped to 0-3.
Meanwhile, Juan Miguel Tiongson sparked Terrafirma Dyip’s second half run to score a stunning 96-88 victory over the Meralco Bolts. The Dyip moved to 1-1, while the Bolts dropped to 2-1.
From a close game after two quarters, the Dyip caught fire offensively in the third quarter behind the outside hits of Tiongson as they built their largest lead of 18 points in the fourth quarter.
The Bolts countered with a strong run in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to as low as six points, but a timely layup by Eric James Camson and two free throws by Jordan Williams sealed the win for the Dyip.
Tiongson ended with 30 points, including six three-pointers, Williams chipped in 29 markers, while Camson contributed double-double 13 points and 10 rebounds for Terrafirma.
NLEX 121 — Simmons 33, Trollano 23, Alas 18, Anthony 16, Rosser 12, Semerad 9, Rosales 5, Nieto 3, Miranda 2, Pascual 0.
NorthPort 112 — Weathers 30, Tolentino 23, Zamar 15, Munzon 12, Calma 9, Sumang 9, Taha 7, Chan 3, Dela Cruz 2, Ayaay 2, Balagasay 0.
Quarterscores: 26-31, 63-60, 97-91, 121-112./ASC, WDJ