NLEX put the cuffs on Phoenix Super LPG for more than five minutes but still needed to repulse a big endgame fightback from the Fuel Masters en route to a 98-94 victory last night in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The win kept the Road Warriors’ winning streak intact after nailing their fourth straight conquest to enable them to join Converge on top of the leaderboard.
The latest win also served as a fitting send off for import Jonathon Simmons, who will leave the Road Warriors with a perfect slate.
A veteran of the National Basketball Association, Simmons is set to rejoin the Shanxi Loongs in the Chinese Basketball Association.
And just as he predicted, Simmons, a native of Houston, Texas, delivered a win in his farewell game this conference.
“It was a great experience. I wouldn’t hesitate to come back and play for Coach Frankie (Lim),” said the 6-6 Simmons, who played 15 games for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2018-2019 season.
In between making stops, the Road Warriors turned a 71-66 deficit in the latter stretch of the third canto to an 86-74 advantage in the 7:28 mark of the final quarter.
But the Road Warriors still needed to endure repeated rallies from the Fuel Masters, who simply ran out of time and absorbed their fourth loss in five games.
The Scores:
NLEX (98) — Simmons 38, Semerad 16, Ganuelas-Rosser 14, Trollano 11, Alas 9, Rosales 4, Anthony 3, Pascual 2, Nieto 1.
PHOENIX (94) — Maxwell 25, Perkins 17, Jazul 13, Tio 11, Manganti 8, Muyang 6, Lalata 4, Garcia 4, Soyud 4, Lojera 2, Adamos 0, Alejandro 0, Serrano 0, Camacho 0.
QUARTERS: 32-23, 52-49, 76-73, 98-94.