Road Warriors repel Fuel Masters to take Game 1

MANILA, Philippines -- NLEX kept Phoenix at bay, 97-92, to draw first blood in the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinal Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. 

It was a game that was too tight to call to the final minute, but breaks ultimately went NLEX’s way. 

Deonte Burton led the Road Warriors with 27 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks, three steals and two assists. Robert Boliock added 20 markers, four boards, four dimes and two steals. 

After trailing by 15 points in the third quarter, the Fuel Masters slowly nipped the lead away. 

They sliced the deficit to one, 89-90, after a jumper by Ken Tuffin with 3:41 remaining. 

A layup by Anthony Semerad, followed by a pair of freebies by Burton, pushed NLEX ahead, 94-89, before Earlington made it a one-possession game, 91-94, with 1:33 left. 

After a miss by Burton, Phoenix had a chance to nip the lead away, but a great defensive possession by the Road Warriors led to a Burton block on a Gian Mamuyac triple. 

On the other end, Schonny Winston missed a layup, and he fouled Tuffin. 

The forward made the first and missed the second, making it a 92-94 deficit with 23 seconds to go, and NLEX rushed to the other end of the court. 

But as he tried to cross the halfcourt line, he was clotheslined by Earlington, who was called for the flagrant foul. 

LJ Gonzales made one of the two free throws, and as the ball returned to the Road Warriors, Burton was fouled and made both his freebies to put the icing on top of the cake. 

Winston and Semerad had 13 and 11 points, respectively, for the winning team. 

Ricci Rivero carried Phoenix with 24 points, nine rebounds and five assists before fouling out of the game. Kai Ballungay backstopped with 20 markers and eight boards, while Earlington was kept to just 14 points,13 rebounds and four assists. 

Game 2 of the best-of-five series is on Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., at the same Antipolo venue.