Bolick and Winston score 31 each, NLEX beat Phoenix 124-117

NLEX trailed by one going into the fourth quarter, 94-93, and the game was tied at 101 early in it. Then the Road Warriors scored nine points in a row, and Phoenix never got the lead back. NLEX beat the Fuel Masters 124-117 in Game 2 of their PBA Governors' Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Robert Bolick and Schonny Winston scored 31 points each. Deonte Burton added 24 points and 10 rebounds. NLEX lead the best-of-five series 2-0 and can reach the semifinals on Saturday.

A first half with no defense

Phoenix matched NLEX shot for shot early. NLEX won the first quarter 35-33. Phoenix won the second 39-33, and the Fuel Masters led 72-68 at halftime. NLEX coach Jimmy Alapag challenged his players at halftime.

"I thought in the first half, 72 points was way too high and a lot of credit goes to Phoenix. They played extremely well in the first half, put a lot of pressure on us defensively," Alapag said.

"But I challenged our guys in the second half. There was no way we're gonna win this game tonight defending that way and I think in the second half, we only gave up 45 points."

The arithmetic matches. Phoenix scored 22 in the third quarter and 23 in the fourth.

The third quarter closes the gap

NLEX won the third quarter 25-22. It was 94-93 for Phoenix at the end of it, a one-point game that had been a four-point Phoenix lead at halftime.

Phoenix had scored 39 in the second quarter. In the third it scored 22, and the lead was down to one point with 12 minutes left.

The fourth quarter belongs to NLEX

The fourth began the way the first three had, with both teams scoring on almost every trip. It was tied at 101 early in the quarter. Winston started the breakaway, and NLEX ran off nine unanswered points to lead 110-101.

Phoenix kept making runs for the rest of the night. NLEX held the lead to the final buzzer, 124-117. It won the fourth quarter 31-23.

The numbers

Bolick had 31 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Winston had 31 points, four rebounds, one assist and two steals. Burton, the NLEX import, had 24 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals. Kevin Alas scored 12.

Phoenix had six players in double figures. Marcellus Earlington, the Fuel Masters' import, led them with 22 points and nine rebounds. Kai Ballungay scored 21 with nine rebounds, Ricci Rivero scored 21, Gian Mamuyac 18, Kenneth Tuffin 17 and Tyler Tio 15.

NLEX had won Game 1 on Sunday, 97-92, when Burton blocked two shots in the last minute. In Game 2 the two teams combined to score 241 points. That compares with 189 in Game 1.

How they got here

NLEX were the top seed in Group A and Phoenix the fourth seed in Group B. Before the series, NLEX lost their last group game to San Miguel, 135-133, after leading by 20. Game 1 was Alapag's first playoff win as a PBA head coach, and Game 2 was his second.

The rest of the round

Also on Wednesday, TNT beat Magnolia 91-73 at the same arena, and TNT lead that series 2-0 as well. Game 1 was a 92-70 TNT win.

All four quarterfinals are best-of-five, and the first team to win three games advances to the semifinals.

What is next

Game 3 is on Saturday, October 31, at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila. A win would send NLEX to the semifinals. A Phoenix win would cut the series to 2-1 and keep it alive.

Scoring

Scoring: NLEX 124-117 Phoenix (Wednesday)

NLEX: Schonny Winston 31, Robert Bolick 31, Deonte Burton 24, Kevin Alas 12, Anthony Semerad 8, JB Bahio 8, Enoch Valdez 4, Ljay Gonzales 4, Robbie Herndon 2, Matt Nieto 0, Xyrus Torres 0.

Phoenix: Marcellus Earlington 22, Ricci Rivero 21, Kai Ballungay 21, Gian Mamuyac 18, Kenneth Tuffin 17, Tyler Tio 15, Francis Escandor 3, JL delos Santos 0, Bryan Santos 0.

By quarter: NLEX 35, 33, 25, 31. Phoenix 33, 39, 22, 23.