Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — On Easter Sunday (March 27), NLEX Road Warriors not only celebrated Jesus Christ’s resurrection but their playoff hopes’ as well.
In the resumption of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, NLEX turned back Blackwater Elite, 88-75, to jack up its bid to stay in the middle pack of the standings.
“With this win, hopefully nabuhay ulit kami,” said coach Boyet Fernandez, whose team, at 4-4, avoided falling into the cellar.
Their foes, the Elite, slid to their third straight defeat for a 3-6 win-loss record.
Import Al Thornton and Asi Taulava carried NLEX onto their broad shoulders, finishing with 22 points apiece and combing for 23 rebounds in the process.
The former NBA cager capped a run by the Road Warriors in the fourth period with a throwdown that kept the Elite at bay for good, 81-69, with 2:40 to go.
But it wasn’t their offense that spelled the difference, at least for Fernandez.
“In the last two weeks, we emphasized on defense during practice,” he said. “Credit to the guys for following it today.”
Blackwater crawled back from a 16-point hole and turned it into a narrow 66-60 deficit after three quarters.
But the Elite’s efforts went for naught as the Road Warriors clamped down on defense and forced them into committing turnovers in the homestretch.
Rookie Art dela Cruz paced Blackwater with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
