Road Warriors withstand Dyip rally, secure playoff entry

NLEX punched its ticket to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals after surviving a late scare from Terrafirma, pulling off a 95-85 victory Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

What looked like a routine finish for the Road Warriors turned tense down the stretch. NLEX built an 18-point cushion early in the fourth quarter, but the Dyip refused to go away, trimming the gap to just 89-85 with 1:47 remaining.

With momentum briefly slipping, NLEX leaned on its veterans to steady the ship.

Cady Lalanne restored order from the free-throw line, before Robert Bolick delivered the biggest basket of the night. With the shot clock winding down, Bolick drilled a difficult jumper with 53.8 seconds left to effectively shut the door on Terrafirma’s rally.

The clutch sequence also served as redemption of sorts for NLEX, which was still reeling from a previous collapse against San Miguel but managed to show composure when it mattered most.

Bolick finished with 20 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and three steals, overcoming a slow start where he was limited to just three points in the first half. He caught fire in the third quarter, scoring 13 points as NLEX unleashed a decisive 34–9 run to turn an 11-point deficit into a commanding 70–56 lead.

LJ Gonzales and JB Bahio chipped in 16 points apiece, while Lalanne posted a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds. Tony Semerad added 14 points before fouling out late in the contest.

Semerad’s exit came after his sixth foul against Maverick Ahanmisi, who converted the resulting three-point play to bring Terrafirma within striking distance. But that would be as close as the Dyip could get.

Ahanmisi led Terrafirma with 22 points, eight rebounds, and six assists in a losing effort. Jerrick Ahanmisi added 13 points, while import Mubashar Ali and Keith Zaldivar contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.

“If you look at the standings, they're at the bottom, we're at the top. But it doesn't mean that they won't play to the best of their abilities when they play anybody. And that's what happened today,” NLEX coach reflected.

The Road Warriors improved to 7-2, staying within striking distance of top-ranked Rain or Shine (7-1), while also strengthening their bid for a Top Four finish and a more favorable playoff position.

“It’s good we got through this game. If there's anything na positive sa larong ’to, nakapasok na kami,” he added. “Nawala ’yung pressure ng kaunti.”

“Still, hindi lang naman Top Eight ’yung ano namin. Siyempre, we want to make it to the Top Four. And eventually, the semis.”

NLEX returns to action on Wednesday, April 29, against Rain or Shine in a matchup that could have major implications on the top seed race.

Terrafirma, meanwhile, continues to struggle, absorbing its sixth straight loss to fall to 3-6. The Dyip will try to snap their skid against Macau on Saturday, May 2, still at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.