NLEX rookie shooter Xyrus Torres fired a pass from the half-court to streaking import Mike Watkins nearly midway through the fourth quarter last night.
Shifting to high gear in the second half, NLEX mauled foreign guest team Eastern 94-76 and clinched at least a playoff for the No. 8 slot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Watkins finished the play with an emphatic slam dunk that gave his side an 80-65 edge with 7:16 to go and the Road Warriors got the job done.
Coach Jong Uichico heaved a big sigh of relief after NLEX managed to stay alive in the mid-season tilt.
“Well, in the first half, I didn’t like the way they played. There was no energy but you know, they were able to pick up in the second half which was a good sign,” Uichico said. “They were able to recover from that slow start. So, iyon, those are good signs, it’s that and of course we give ourselves another shot (for the playoffs).
“We’ll play another game but iyong game naman na iyon is either playoffs or we’re (going to) quarterfinals already. So, you know, we’ll take this basta may tiyansa naman kami because earlier, two weeks ago, we were on the brink of elimination pero ngayon may tiyansa kami so we’ll take this,” he added.
Watkins poured a game-high of 41 points, to go with 14 rebounds, and two assists.
Robert Bolick had 21 markers, five boards, and eight dimes as NLEX scored a fitting follow-up to a 122-110 whipping of Rain or Shine last Saturday and wound up with an even 6-6 mark after its eliminations campaign.
The Road Warriors’ runaway victory also sent defending champion San Miguel Beer packing. The Beermen finished the elims with a 5-7 card.
Eastern lost for the second time in a row, including a 78-107 rout at the hands of the Magnolia Hotshots last Sunday to end its elims drive with a 7-5 record.
NLEX turned a 43-42 cushion at the half to a 65-57 lead heading into the final period.
There was no stopping the Road Warriors from there and they even took an 88-69 spread on a Bolick three-pointer, with only 3:55 remaining.
Reinforcement Chris McLaughlin carried the fight for the visitors with 18 points and 17 caroms while Hayden Blankley had 14 and four.
Glenn Yang and Kobey Lam also combined for 23 markers for Eastern.
While there should be more roadblocks, NLEX can sleep soundly —for now.