MANILA, Philippines -- The NLEX Road Warriors did just enough to escape the Blackwater Bossing, 84-81, in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup debut Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
A dagger 3-pointer by Robert Bolick with 37.8 seconds remaining kept Blackwater at bay as the Road Warriors completed a 16-point comeback.
Bolick finished with 24 points on 6-of-18 shooting, to go with seven assists, four steals and three rebounds. Cady Lalanne chipped in 22 markers and 16 boards in the win.
NLEX trailed by 16 points, 33-16, in the second quarter.
The Bossing continued to keep the pressure on in the third frame, taking an eight-point lead, 46-38, after a layup by Abu Tratter.
Seven straight points by the Road Warriors, capped by a JB Bahio layup, sliced the deficit to one, 45-46.
A 9-2 counter attack by Blackwater pushed the lead to eight anew, 55-47, before NLEX forced a nip-and-tuck ballgame the rest of the way.
A pair of free throws by Sedrick Barefield pushed Blackwater’s advantage to six, 75-69, with 6:50 remaining, but a massive 12-0 run capped by a Lalanne deuce gave the Road Warriors an 81-75 lead.
Free throws by Daniel Ochefu, as well as a layup by Barefield, made it a two-point game with a little over a minute to go.
Bolick then made up for a missed layup with the crucial 3-pointer with 37.8 seconds left to give NLEX much-needed breathing room, 84-79.
Ochefu answered back with a jumper, and Blackwater had a chance to tie things up or take the lead.
The Bossing went to Christian David, who faked and attempted a clean three. However, his shot came up short as the clock melted.
Schonny Winston added 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and four steals for NLEX, while Kevin Alas had seven.
Barefield powered Blackwater with 18 points, while Ochefu chipped in 16 markers and 16 boards. David had 12 points in the losing effort.