Game today
Davao City
5 p.m.- San Miguel Beer vs. GlobalPort
The NLEX Road Warriors fell behind early and had to go through some anxious moments in the endgame before escaping past the lowly Blackwater Elite, 90-86, last night in the newly opened 41st PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Blackwater started hot, banking on its pin-point shooting to close the first quarter with a 26-17 lead. The Elite went on to lead by double-digit in the second quarter, 33-22.
Luckily for the Warriors, rookie Simon Enciso gave them a huge lift when he scored nine of his 15 points in the second quarter that allowed NLEX to move within a point at the half, 41-42.
NLEX finally got going as I wrested the lead after three quarters of play, 60-59.
The Road Warriors threatened to break away with Sean Anthony and Mark Borboran conniving to power their team to an 85-78 lead with 3:19 left.
Blackwater turned to Keith Agovida and Reil Cervantes for a 6-0 run to move within 84-85. The Elite even had a chance to tie the contest but Cervantes missed a free throw with 51.2 seconds to go.
Veteran center Asi Taulava pushed the Road Warriors to an 87-84 lead with 37.2 seconds play before Agovida made it a one-point game with a layup in the next play.
Taulava sank another pair of crucial free throws with 19 seconds left before Cervantes missed what could have been game-tying triple.
Anthony pegged the final count with split free throw.
Taulava topped the Road Warriors with 19 markers, while Anthony finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.
Agovida paced Blackwater with 15 markers.