NLEX did enough to fend off a spirited Blackwater rally and post a 99-88 win Wednesday, October 29, in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. The victory marked the Road Warriors’ third straight win, improving their record to 4-1 and placing them at the top of the standings pending TNT’s result later in the evening.

Workhorse JB Bahio delivered a career-high 23 points despite battling fever and briefly leaving the floor due to a shoulder scare. His gritty performance set the tone for NLEX, which has been on a strong run despite recurring mid-game lapses.

Road Warriors still wary of lapses despite win

Coach Jong Uichico acknowledged the progress but remained cautious, noting the team’s tendency to lose momentum in stretches. “May lull palagi kami in a certain game. We’ve got to find out why,” Uichico said, stressing the need to sustain intensity with a tight schedule ahead.

Robert Bolick continued his solid play with 15 points and 12 assists, while Xyrus Torres chipped in 18 points. Blackwater rallied from 15 points down to pull within three at 69-66 but could not sustain its surge in the final quarter.

Blackwater shows fight but slides to third straight defeat

Sedrick Barefield’s 19 points led Blackwater, which fell to 1-3 after failing to maintain its third-quarter momentum. Dalph Panopio added 12 points, while Christian David opened scoring with a triple but finished with nine on 4-of-12 shooting.

Despite showing competitiveness, the Bossing continue to struggle in closing out games, suffering their third straight defeat and slipping further down the standings.