Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4) – The NLEX Road Warriors wrapped up their PBA Governors’ Cup elimination round campaign with a 115-103 win over defending titlists Barangay Ginebra San Miguel on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Import KJ McDaniels led the second half offensive onslaught for NLEX in his farewell game with a double-double effort of 26 points and 10 rebounds to help his team finish with an 8-3 slate and an assured twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
Road Warriors team captain Kevin Alas contributed 18 markers, 10 boards, and eight assists while Kris Rosales added 17 points in their victory.
Ginebra controlled the pace of the game in the first half, but the top three NLEX leading scorers took over in the third quarter to establish an 83-77 lead after 36 minutes of action.
The well-known never say die attitude of the Gin Kings every fourth quarter was non-existent in this match after the Road Warriors fortified their defense while making most of their shots.
Justin Brownlee’s triple-double production of 36 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists went for naught as the reigning champions dropped to 5-5, possibly settling among the four lower quarterfinals seeds.
“We don’t know how we will play without him because we’ve got so used to him, not just the way he plays the game but he’s became close to a lot of players,” NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao said of the departure of their prized reinforcement.
McDaniels will not join the Road Warriors in the playoffs as his girlfriend is expected to give birth this month. He will be replaced by former Oklahoma standout Cameron Clark, who sat on the sidelines during the game.
The Scores:
NLEX 115 – McDaniels 26, Alas 18, Rosales 17, Chua 15, Trollano 14, Quinahan 10, Nieto 5, Murrell 4, Paniamogan 3, Ighalo 3, Soyud 0
GINEBRA 103 – Brownlee 36, Standhardinger 16, Aguilar 15, Thompson 14, J. Tenorio 9, Chan 7, Onwubere 2, Tolentino 2, Pinto 2, R. Aguilar 0
Quarterscores: 21-33, 53-58, 83-77, 115-103
