NLEX squandered a huge first half lead but recovered just in time to complete a 100-95 escape over Phoenix in the Group B action of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, Aug. 25.

The Road Warriors looked poised to run away with the victory after seizing a huge 23-point lead at the break but the Fuel Masters made a spirited comeback in the last two quarters, making the contest interesting in the end.

NLEX even found itself trailing by four points late in the contest but showed great resolve and poise, restoring order behind clutch hits from import Myke Henry, Anthony Semerad and Robbie Herndon to notch its second win in as many games.

Henry dropped 21 of his 37 points in the first two quarters although his biggest basket came in the final frame when he completed an and-1 play to keep his team within striking distance, 92-93, after suddenly trailing after a booming four from RR Garcia.

That shot seemed to have knocked some sense to the Road Warriors as they regained the lead in the waning minutes before Henry found Herndon wide open for a right corner triple to ice the game.

Henry added nine rebounds, five assists, four steals and a block to his name while Semerad chipped in 13. Robert Bolick did a little bit of everything once more with 11 points, seven rebounds and nine assists.

Phoenix, just like in its first game against San Miguel, just couldn’t pull off the big plays down the stretch as Jjay Alejandro missed two four-pointers in the waning seconds to try to send the game to an extra period.

The Fuel Masters drew a big game from Garcia, who turned back the clock and fired 18 points spiked by two four-pointers along with four assists.

Javee Mocon and Jason Perkins had 12 and 13 points, respectively, as they manned the paint when import Jayveous Mckinnis was on the bench during that blistering second half run.

Mckinnis had a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds but were not enough as Phoenix slid to a 0-2 slate.