Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/nation/03/25/nlex-asia-taulava.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Asi Taulava, who scored 22 points, was named best player of the game. Photo: PBA Media Bureau</div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – The NLEX Road Warriors nearly squandered a double-digit advantage but recovered in time to defeat the Blackwater Elite, 88-75, and claim their fourth victory of the 2016 PBA Commissioner&#x27;s Cup Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.Four players scored in double-digits for NLEX, led by import Al Thornton and Asi Taulava, as the Road Warriors overcame the Elite&#x27;s charge in the third and early in the fourth period to come away with the win and bolster their hopes of making the quarter-finals.The victory hiked NLEX&#x27;s record to 4-4, while Blackwater slumped to its third loss in a row and sixth overall against three wins.&quot;It&#x27;s really our defense that stepped up. Our goal was to limit Blackwater to 90, and we&#x27;re happy that we limited them to below 80,&quot; NLEX head coach Boyet Fernandez said after the game. &quot;In the past two games, we were allowing our opponents to score on us.&quot;&quot;The last two weeks of practice, we emphasized playing defense and following our game plan, and I credit the guys for following it,&quot; he added.The Road Warriors were comfortably ahead, 64-48, with 3:29 to go in the third quarter following a free throw by rookie Glenn Khobuntin. But thanks to in part their relentless work on the offensive boards, the Elite were able to claw their way back into the contest.Blackwater rookie Arthur dela Cruz sparked a 14-2 run bridging the third and fourth quarter to cut the lead to only four points, 62-66, with still over 11 minutes left in the game.Blackwater import MJ Rhett completed a three-point play, then dela Cruz assisted on a Kyle Pascual jumper before draining a three-pointer with 3.6 seconds to go. Dela Cruz then scored on a lay-up off a touchdown pass by Rhett to make it a four-point game.The Elite cut the deficit to two points, 68-70, off a lay-up by Bambam Gamalinda who was also fouled by Taulava on the play. Unfortunately for Blackwater, he bricked the bonus free throw, and NLEX responded with an 11-1 run to build a double-digit advantage once more, 81-69, with 2:45 to go.Thornton played a huge role in the backbreaking run, assisting on a lay-up by Sean Anthony then capping it with a monster slam dunk that took the fight out of the Elite.&quot;(Thornton) knows that it&#x27;s really his offense that we need, but he also played good defense against (MJ) Rhett. Credit Al, but it&#x27;s a total team effort also,&quot; said Fernandez.Taulava was named Player of the Game after scoring 22 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. Thornton also had 22 points and eight boards. Anthony had 15, and Alas added 10 as the Road Warriors shot 44% from the field.Dela Cruz led the Elite with 16 points and 12 rebounds off the bench, while Rhett tallied 14 points and 18 rebounds. Blackwater had 22 offensive boards that led to 24 second chance points, but still only managed to convert 31% of their field goals, including only four of their 20 attempts from beyond the arc.Both teams started slow, with NLEX leading 11-10 with 4:09. A late burst by Thornton gave the Road Warriors an 18-12 advantage to end the first, and he continued his onslaught in the second, sparking a 9-1 run that gave NLEX a double-digit lead, 27-14.The Road Warriors would lead by as much as 16 points, 32-16, off a Simon Enciso lay-up before Blackwater briefly cut into the lead. A putback by Rhett, and a three-pointer by Pascual cut the lead to eight points, 26-34.After a Taulava lay-up made it a 10-point game anew, Blackwater missed out on a chance to cut the lead to single digits when Rhett flubbed a lay-up, leading to a Kevin Alas basket in transition. The Road Warriors wound up taking a 42-32 lead into the halftime break after Dela Cruz orchestrated a mini 4-0 run to end the second quarter.The scores:NLEX 88 -- Taulava 22, Thornton 22, Anthony 15, Alas 10, J Villanueva 7, E Villanueva 4, Khobuntin 3, Lanete 3, Enciso 2. Borboran 0.Blackwater 75 -- Dela Cruz 16, Rhett 14, Cervantes 11, Gamalinda 8, Cortez 7, Pascual 7, Lastimosa 6, Erram 4, Sena 2, Bulawan 0, Golla 0, Reyes 0, Tiongson 0.Quarters: 18-12; 42-32; 66-60; 88-75For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

The NLEX Road Warriors nearly squandered a double-digit advantage but recovered in time to defeat the Blackwater Elite, 88-75, and claim their fourth victory of the 2016 PBA Commissioner's Cup Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The NLEX Road Warriors nearly squandered a double-digit advantage but recovered in time to defeat the Blackwater Elite, 88-75, and claim their fourth victory of the 2016 PBA Commissioner's Cup Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

NLEX pulls away from Blackwater to notch 4th win

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NLEX pulls away from Blackwater to notch 4th win

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 27, 2016 07:54 PM PHT

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commissioner's cup

blackwater elite

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