The NLEX Road Warriors climbed into playoff contention with a decisive 122-101 rout of the Blackwater Elite in the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum yesterday, March 17, 2019.
NLEX made quick work of hapless Blackwater to earn its second straight win.
JP Erram showed the way for the victors with 20 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. Philip Paniamogan led the scoring with 25 points. Kenneth Ighalo added 17 markers.
Juami Tiongson was a big contributor as well, registering his own double-double with 13 points and 11 assists.
Fully in its element, the Road Warriors hardly broke a sweat as they took command early en route to the easy triumph.
This was a critical victory for the Road Warriors as they moved up to seventh place with a 4-5 mark and boosted their chance to earning a spot in the quarterfinals.
On the other hand, the loss formally ousted the Elite from contention, dropping to 2-8, at the bottom of the standings.
The Road Warriors went berserk in the second, outscoring the Elite 34-20 to build a commanding 15-point cushion, 57-42, at the half.
Erram was already putting in the numbers in the first half while Tiongson and Ighalo provided significant support.
The trio combined for 31 of NLEX’s 57 first half points.
It only got worse for Blackwater in the second half as the Road Warriors continued their assault.
Paniamogan’s lay-up at the 4:49 mark of the third hiked NLEX’s advantage to an insurmountable 29 points, 84-55.
From that point, there was certainly no looking back for the Road Warriors.
Allein Maliksi had 20 markers to lead the Elite.
In another critical tussle, Barangay Ginebra (4-3) and Magnolia (3-4) are currently facing each other ina a rivalry game as of this report.
Both teams are looking to inch closer to a berth in the quarters.
The scores:
NLEX Road Warriors 122 – Paniamogan 25, Erram 20, Galanza 18, Ighalo 17, Tiongson 13, Quinahan 8, Porter 6, Tallo 5, Soyud 4, Lao 4, Baguio 2, Taulava 0, Magat 0, Varilla 0.
Blackwater Elite 101 – Maliksi 20, Digregorio 17, Tratter 16, Desiderio 12, Belo 11, Cortez 6, Banal 6, Dario 6, Sumang 5, Jose 2, Sena 0, Al-Husaaini 0, Javier 0,
Quarter scores: 23-22, 57-42, 89-72, 122-101.
