ANTIPOLO - NLEX let loose a strong finishing kick against NorthPort to collar its second win in as many starts, 121-112, and seize a share of the PBA Governors' Cup lead Saturday night at the Ynares Center here.
Engaged in a tight contest with the Batang Pier, the Road Warriors seized control with a telling 8-0 salvo in the middle of the fourth canto en route to clearing their path to the top alongside idle Converge and TNT.
Frankie Lim's troops outscored the Batang Pier in the final 5:22, 17-8, to secure this followup to their opening 124-102 win over Blackwater last Wednesday.
NLEX's 2-0 start was a stark contrast to Lim's initial stint with the team in the last conference. The Road Warriors' lost back-to-back games before Lim tasted his first victory at the helm.
"It's the makeup of the team last conference that's different. I had to settle with what I had then. At least this conference, we got new guys coming in and ang pagbabago is that I think we're a tough team right now," said Lim, who acquired Anthony, Pascual, and Hesed Gabo prior to the season-ending meet.
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"I can see a lot of toughness in players and that's a good sign," he added.
Jonathon Simmons banged in 33, including eight in the fourth, to go with eight rebounds and five assists as he kept his end of the bargain so far. Simmons vowed to lead NLEX to victory in his short stint before leaving for China.
"That's the deal, that's what we agreed upon," said Simmons who is seen to suit up for only four matches.
The fancied former NBA player was ably complemented by Don Trollano's 23, Kevin Alas' 18, Sean Anthony's 16 and Brandon Rosser's 12.
The Batang Pier, who couldn't sustain their sizzling 25-13 start and sputtered in the finish fell to 0-3, still unable to give new coach Bonnie Tan his maiden win.
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Marcus Weathers took scoring cudgels with 30 markers, 14 of them in the fourth, for NorthPort, which continued to miss key players Robert Bolick and Arwind Santos. (OL)
The Scores:
NLEX 121 - Simmons 33, Trollano 23, Alas 18, Anthony 16, Rosser 12, Semerad 9, Rosales 5, Nieto 3, Miranda 2, Pascual 0.
NorthPort 112 - Weathers 30, Tolentino 23, Zamar 15, Munzon 12, Calma 9, Sumang 9, Taha 7, Chan 3, Dela Cruz 2, Ayaay 2, Balagasay 0.
Quarters: 26-31, 63-60, 97-91, 121-112
