THE transformation may not yet be complete for NLEX, but it's still enough for the team to rack up some wins.
Dodging some major second-half collapses the Road Warriors came out a 100-93 victor over Kia Saturday to grab the solo lead in the PBA Governors Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Aaron Fuller scattered 24 points and hauled down a game-high 19 rebounds and joined hands with Kevin Alas and JR Quinahan in the endgame that prevented NLEX from fully blowing as much as a 27-point lead.
Alas, Carlo Lastimosa and Quinahan each wound up with at least 11 points as the Road Warriors followed up their 112-104 win over Alaska to break off from a tie with fellow opening day winner Phoenix, Meralco and Rain or Shine.
In all, the win was NLEX's fourth straight since winding up the Commissioner's Cup with back-to-back victories and coach Yeng Guiao said the roll is something that should serve them in good stead in the long run.
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"It's a nice feeling to be putting together streaks," said Guiao, whose team finished dead-last in each of the two conferences under his watch.
"I think the confidence level is getting better," added Guiao. "We're really excited before this game to just keep playing because we know there's something good that's really happening within the team. We feel the transformation from our previous mentality."
Guiao himself fueled Kia's last fight back by getting slapped with two technicals that caused his ejection, still 4:13 left, but in the end those converted charities hardly mattered.
Despite dropping its second game in as many outings Kia still gave NLEX one big scare, going on a 14-0 run in the third quarter to trim the difference to just 12 points, and mustering a 12-2 surge in the fourth to pull within 86-92, still 3:00 left.
But Alas scored on a layup, Fuller on a putback and Quinahan on two charities that gave NLEX a 98-88 cushion.
Markeith Cummings capped a 30-point, 15-rebound performance with five straight points, but there were only 14 seconds left and Alas sealed the outcome with two charities.
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Former NLEX player Glenn Khobuntin added 15 points and Chito Jaime 13 for Kia, which looked ready to give up the ghost after digging itself a deep hole early, only to come charging back to life despite the absence of ailing playmaker LA Revilla.
Philip Paniamogan, Reden Celda and Nico Elorde joined hands with Khobuntin took turns helping Cummings bring the Picanto back in the game but the task of overhauling a 40-64 halftime deficit and a 51-78 count proved too much.
