Road Warriors annihilate Giant Pandas by 39 points on Alapag's PBA head coaching debut

ANTIPOLO, Philippines – The Jimmy Alapag era in NLEX is off to a rousing start. 

Alapag and the Road Warriors blasted off against the Macau Giant Pandas, drubbing the guest team by 39 points, 114-75, in their PBA Governors’ Cup clash Friday evening at the Ynares Center here. 

NLEX clamped down on defense and kept the pedal to the metal in the second half to usher in the new import-laden conference on a high. 

“It's almost like going home after your first day of school. You had a good first day. But, you know, malayo pa. Still a lot of work to be done,” the newly named head coach Alapag told reporters after the win. 

“But like I've said, I've been here nine, 10 days. Really happy with the group. I think I just love their competitive spirit and their selflessness. You know, we had 30 assists. And to have that many assists in your first game, I think that's just a foundation that we can build on going forward.” 

DeQuan Jones powered the Road Warriors with 23 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and a steal. Kevin Alas added 19 markers, three boards, two dimes and two steals in 19 minutes off the bench, while Ljay Gonzales had 13. 

Macau trailed by just three points, 31-34, in the second quarter after an and-one play by De’Vondre Perry. 

But an 11-3 run capped by a triple by Xyrus Torres slowly placed some breathing room for NLEX, 45-34, before a late jumper by Kobey Lam made it a 45-36 ballgame at the half. 

It was in the second half that the Road Warriors left the Giant Pandas in the rear-view mirror. 

Nine straight points by NLEX pushed the lead to 18, 54-36, before Perry made a triple to snap the run. But the Road Warriors stepped on the gas and never let up. 

The lead grew to as much as 43 points, 114-71, after a triple by Matt Nieto, before deuces by Damian Chong Qui and Perry settled the final score. 

JB Bahio and Schonny Winston had 11 and 10 points, respectively, for NLEX. Star guard Robert Bolick had nine points on 2-of-7 shooting, but he had eight assists and six rebounds. 

Chong Qui finished with 35 points for Maca, to go with three assists and three rebounds. Perry backstopped with 26 markers, with 15 boards, four steals and three dimes.