Gritty NLEX tops Blackwater

MANILA, Philippines — The NLEX Road Warriors roared to life towards the finish and made sure they’re on the winning track before coach Frankie Lim finally sits on the bench next week.

With Lim serving his standing suspension from 2015, the gritty Road Warriors showed grit in charging back from 16 points down to hurdle Blackwater, 105-102, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The gutsy effort, a follow-up to a similar 96-90 come-from-behind verdict over former mentor Yeng Guiao and Rain or Shine, propelled NLEX to a share of the early lead with idle Bay Area Dragons (2-0).

“Itong dalawang panalo, medyo mahirap din para sa buong team. Ang kagandahan lang, yung willingness ng players, yung focus, talagang andoon,” assistant coach Adonis Tierra said.

Lim is set to call the shots for the first time on Saturday in NLEX’ duel with Phoenix. The balik-PBA tactician let Tierra and the holdover coaching staff do the honors in their maiden outing then served the ban he incurred during his previous coaching stint with Barangay Ginebra seven years ago.

Lim prepared the game plan versus the Bossing (1-2).

“Excited ang team (to run Lim’s system). For the past three days, ang taas ng level ng intensity. Maganda yung sistema pero hindi rin ganoon kadali ma-adapt. I’m happy with the way we played tonight. Na-run namin yung system, yung plays ni coach Frankie,” said Tierra.

“At ang pinaka-importante doon, even when we’re trailing, hindi bumitaw,” he added.

Playing catch-up majority of the way, the Road Warriors shifted to high gear and zoomed past the fading Bossing with a 15-4 closing bombardment.

At the forefront of that searing windup was import Earl Clark, who poured 10 of his 38 points in the payoff period.

Later, Robert Bolick erupted for a new career-high 44 points as NorthPort stole a 101-95 overtime victory over a debuting Meralco squad that ran out of power after leading by 20.

Bolick dropped 22 straight markers, including the tying free throws in regulation and the go-ahead triple and layup in OT, to spark the Batang Pier’s mighty fightback en route to their second W in three starts.