PROLIFIC import Al Thornton once again put on an explosive offensive display as he towed the NLEX Road Warriors to a 104-99 win over the Meralco Bolts in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Thornton, a versatile forward with legitimate NBA experience, scored 38 points, 20 in the third, to help the Road Warriors put an end to the team’s two-game losing streak and even their win-loss record to 3-3 (win-loss).
Garvo Lanete, the younger brother of former University of the Visayas guard Von, provided a spark off the bench with 14 while Kevin Alas pitched in 10.
Meralco came as close as three in the game’s dying seconds but NLEX made free throws to put the game out of reach. The defeat was Meralco’s second in a row and dropped them to 5-2. Arinze Onuaku paced the Bolts with 16 points and 18 boards.
The scores:
NLEX 104 — Thornton 38, Lanete 14, Alas 10, Anthony 9, Taulava 8, Khbuntin 7, E Villanueva 7, Enciso 6, J Villanueva 3, Reyes 2, Arboleda 0, Borbran 0,.
Meralco 99 — Onuaku 16, Amer 14, Dillinger 14, Alapag 11, Ferriols 10, Newsome 10, Faundo 8, Hugnatan 8, Hodge 4, Bono 2, Caram 2, Buenafe 0, David 0.