The NLEX Road Warriors leaned on an explosive second quarter to beat Blackwater in the Kadayawan Invitational Basketball Tournament in Davao City.
NLEX bucked a slow start, thwarting Blackwater, 101-84, to rule the Kadayawan Invitational Basketball Tournament at the USEP Gymnasium in Davao City Sunday, Aug. 24.
The Road Warriors had an unlikely hero in Tony Semerad, who was stellar on both ends of the floor.
Semerad shot three triples in the fourth period, the last of which put NLEX ahead, 96-78, with 2:44 left to play.
He submitted 16 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and a steal to eventually claim the Finals Most Valuable Player recognition.
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Down 9-20 early on, the Road Warriors seized control in the second period where they outgunned the Bossing, 34-12, for a 54-40 buffer at halftime.
NLEX sustained its charge in the third period, stretching its lead to 74-53 with under three minutes left in the frame.
Not ones to quit, the Bossing, who went unbeaten in the elimination round, countered with a 15-4 tear bridging the third and final frames capped by Dave Murrel’s trey.
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That trimmed the gap to 10, 68-78, at the 9:27 mark.
But just when the Bossing thought they were on track for another come-from-behind win, NLEX responded with a 15-4 blitz to regain control.