The young ones stepped up when it mattered most.
Sean Anthony tipped his hat off to the NLEX Road Warriors’ rookies as the team stayed in the hunt for the final playoff berth with a thrilling 107-103 win over the Converge FiberXers on Wednesday.
While he was hailed Best Player of the Game after churning out 14 points and four assists, the hardworking forward deflected credit to the likes of Enoch Valdez and Richie Rodger.
“I maybe had a role of leading, but a lot of young guys stepped up especially in the fourth quarter,” said Anthony after the match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“That’s what we’re trying to do, get everyone firing and help from everywhere. As much as I’ve done both, those guys really stepped up down the stretch.”
He was on point.
The two hit some timely baskets in the fourth period, with Valdez hitting back-to-back triples that gave the team a comfortable 98-88 cushion.
With top guard Robert Bolick being hounded by JL Delos Santos in the crucial stretches, Rodger hit the elbow jumper off a downscreen that gave NLEX a 107-102 lead with under a minute left.
Valdez and Rodger ended up with 19 points and 14 points, respectively.
NLEX coach Frankie Lim also heaped praise on his prized rookies.
“Good thing is ‘yung rookies, si Enoch, si Richie, and Jhan (Nermal) responded very well,” said Lim, whose team missed the services of injured Brandon Ganuelas Rosser, Matt Nieto, and Dave Marcelo
But with how his charges fared on Wednesday, Lim is hopeful they can sustain their fine play when they take on Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the must-win game on Saturday.
“I just hope everybody gets well and we maintain this kind of composure,” he said.
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The game will take place at 6:30 p.m. this Saturday, January 13, at the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation in Legazpi City.
It will be aired on CNN Philippines, PBA Rush, and the Pilipinas Live app.
(KA)