Road Warriors, humatak ng do-or-die sa Q'Finals

ni Gerard Arce - @Sports | September 30, 2021

Naipuwersa ng No.6 rank NLEX Road Warriors ang isang do-or-die match kontra sa No.2 seed Meralco Bolts, 81-80, mula sa isang magandang in-bound play at depensa sa kabilang dulo kahapon sa quarterfinal round ng 46th PBA Philippine Cup sa Don Honorio Ventura State University sa Bacolor, Pampanga.

Naging eksakto ang pasa ni Jericho Cruz sa nalalabing 6 segundo para sa isang go-ahead basket ni rookie Calvin Oftana, habang nabutata sa kanilang band ni Jr. Quinahan ang 3 pt shot ni Cliff Hodge upang maitulak ng Road Warriors ang laro sa sudden-death game sa Biyernes.

“It was intended to go to him and it went exactly. Sometimes a play like that happen and sometimes not, but we’re lucky that it happens this time,” pahayag ni NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao. “We all know that he got his upside in his defense and mistakes in the end game, but that’s the way rookies mature. Despite his lapses and mismanage in defense, what you can ask for him,” dagdag ng 62-anyos na 7-time PBA champion at 2-time coach of the year.

Dalawang importanteng free throws ang naimintis ni Bolts forward Mac Belo mula sa defensive foul ni Jr Quinahan, na magbibigay sa kanila ng panigurong kalamangan matapos maisalpak ni Reynel Hugnatan ang panlamang na lay up sa nalalabing 55 segundo sa 80-79.

Nanguna para sa Road Warriors si dating San Beda forward Anthony Semerad na pumukol ng 23 puntos sa 9-of-14 shooting at 4 na rebounds. Nagdagdag naman ng tig-12pts sina Oftana at Don Trollano at 10pts kay Cruz, habang nagbuslo ng 16pts si Allein Maliksi.

“We just want to come in and win as many as we could and came out more aggressive and shot full today and being proud of Calvin for stepping up,” saad ng 30-anyos na Filipino/Czech/Australian na malaki ang pagbabago sa laro na nakakayanang maglaro ng iba’t ibang posisyon.