Deonte Burton scores 27 and blocks two late shots as NLEX hold off Phoenix 97-92 in Game 1

NLEX were ahead 94-92 in the closing seconds, and a 15-point lead was nearly gone. Then Marcellus Earlington fouled Enoch Valdez, and the referees called it a flagrant foul. That gave NLEX free throws and the ball. L-Jay Gonzales made one of two, Deonte Burton made both of his with 13.8 seconds left, and NLEX had a 97-92 win in Game 1 of their PBA Governors' Cup quarterfinal on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The Road Warriors lead the best-of-five series 1-0. It was also Jimmy Alapag's first playoff win as a PBA head coach.

This follows NLEX's last game of the group stage, when San Miguel came back from 20 down to beat them 135-133 and NLEX still kept the top seed in Group A.

NLEX 97, Phoenix 92

NLEX in front. NLEX led after every quarter: 29-26 after one, 56-48 at halftime and 77-73 going into the fourth. The lead reached 15 late in the third quarter, at 71-56.

Phoenix come back. From 71-56, the Fuel Masters scored 17 of the last 23 points of the third quarter to make it 77-73. They got within two at 94-92 late in the fourth.

Burton at both ends. Burton blocked a shot by Kai Ballungay inside, and then blocked a three by Gian Mamuyac that would have tied the game, with less than a minute left. He finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and three blocks. He and Robert Bolick both played through foul trouble, with five fouls each, and both finished the game.

The foul. After Earlington's flagrant foul on Valdez, Gonzales split his two free throws to make it 95-92, NLEX kept the ball, and Burton's two free throws were the last points of the night.

Bolick scored 20 for NLEX. Schonny Winston had 13 and Anthony Semerad 11.

Ricci Rivero led Phoenix with 24 points and nine rebounds before he fouled out late in the game. Ballungay scored 20. Earlington had 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Mamuyac scored 11.

"I thought down the stretch we made enough plays especially the defensive end, cleaned up the defensive end," Alapag said.

"But Phoenix has been a resilient team throughout the conference," he said. "So it's expected that they will continue to play."

Scoring

Scoring: NLEX 97-92 Phoenix (Sunday)

NLEX: Deonte Burton 27, Robert Bolick 20, Schonny Winston 13, Anthony Semerad 11, Kevin Alas 6, L-Jay Gonzales 6, Herndon 5, Enoch Valdez 5, JB Bahio 4, Racal 0, Matt Nieto 0, Arvin Gamboa 0, Dave Marcelo 0.

Phoenix: Ricci Rivero 24, Kai Ballungay 20, Marcellus Earlington 14, Gian Mamuyac 11, Tyler Tio 9, Kenneth Tuffin 7, Bryan Santos 5, JL delos Santos 2, Francis Escandor 0.

By quarter: NLEX 29, 27, 21, 20. Phoenix 26, 22, 25, 19.

What is next

NLEX were the top seed in Group A and Phoenix the fourth seed in Group B. All four quarterfinals are best-of-five, and the first team to three wins goes to the semifinals. The other series are Magnolia against TNT, Rain or Shine against Converge, and San Miguel against Barangay Ginebra.

Game 2 is on Wednesday, October 28, at the Ynares Center. A win would put NLEX one game from the semifinals. A Phoenix win would tie the series at 1-1.

Opinion: Why the best-of-five should be used in every conference.

The other Game 1: TNT routed Magnolia 92-70.