NLEX blows 11-pt lead, bombs out of title contention

MANILA, Philippines -- The NLEX Road Warriors squandered an 11-point lead as Sale Club-Morocco scored a come-from-behind 97-90 win Thursday (Friday Manila time) in the quarterfinals of the 26th Dubai International Invitational Basketball Championships at the Al Ahli Club.

All NLEX starters scored in double figures and waxed hot outside with 11 triples but the Moroccans overcame that with a big second half surge.

"Talo, placing na lang for 5th place bukas at 9 pm vs Egypt," NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez broke the sad news to Philstar.com after the game.

NLEX import Al Thornton scored 28 points while Jonas Villanueva and Mac Cardona added 15 and 13, respectively. Asi Taulava and Aldrech Ramos rounded up the double digit scoring parade for NLEX that went for naught with 10 points each.

The Road Warriors will try to salvage fifth place against Al Zamalek-Egypt, which beat them in the classification round, 73-67.