At A Glance
- Xyrus Torres came up huge in the clutch, draining a booming triple inside the final minute as NLEX squeezed past Barangay Ginebra, 89-86, to keep its streak going in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Wednesday, May 7.
Xyrus Torres came up huge in the clutch, draining a booming tripleinside the final minute as NLEX squeezed past Barangay Ginebra, 89-86, to keep its streak going in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Wednesday, May 7.
The Road Warriors squandered a once 17-point lead and were even down by two, 86-84, when Torres showed pure guts, first faking off a pass before going for the dagger himself – a wide open left wing triple to put his team ahead for good, 87-86, with 48.2 seconds left.
The big shot gave NLEX its fourth straight win – three of which came against the semifinalists of the last conference – to improve to a 4-1 record in the standings.
Of course, it would not happen without the efforts of their star in Robert Bolick who fired 28 points – including the triple that allowed NLEX to keep in step with Ginebra entering the final minute of the game.
Trailing by three, 81-84, Bolick nailed the big top-of-the-key trey to tie the game at 84-all. Scottie Thompson put the Kings back ahead but a scramble for the loose ball on the next NLEX possession ended up with Javee Mocon issuing a kickout pass to Torres who knocked down the dagger.
Ginebra had its chances, tying or taking the lead but Jamie Malonzo missed an open trey and the Kings failed to produce a stop in the final possession as Bolick sealed the game with two free throws.
Torres actually had the chance to solely take the hero's role but he botched two free throws in the endgame.
He finished in double-figures still with 11 while Brandon Ramirez and Kevin Alas also chipped in 11 and 10 respectively.
Stephen Holt and Scottie Thompson provided the one-two punch for Ginebra with 21 and 21, respectively, but was not enough for the Kings who now slid to a 2-2 record.