NLEX needed every ounce of its late-game firepower to survive a scare from Converge, pulling away 119-107 in a back-and-forth battle Saturday, August 1, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena that pushed the Road Warriors to a perfect 5-0 record in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

Schonny Winston looked nothing like the sharpshooter who torched the nets for 24 points in his previous outing, missing his first several attempts and struggling to find a rhythm through three quarters. But the veteran guard flipped the switch when it mattered most, erupting for 17 points in the second half — including 10 in a decisive fourth quarter that powered NLEX’s surge out of an 88-all deadlock.

“We know they’re just a really good team. We know they’re gonna go out there and compete, so we wanted to … bring a lot of energy in this game,” Winston said.

DeQuan Jones Delivers the Knockout Blow

While Winston’s turnaround grabbed attention, it was DeQuan Jones who authored the finishing script. The forward exploded for 12 of his game-high 28 points in the final period alone, personally accounting for 12 of NLEX’s last 14 points to slam the door shut and secure the 119-107 final.

Jones also grabbed nine rebounds, while Berto Bolick nearly notched a triple-double with 19 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists. Anthony Semerad provided the early spark, draining all 15 of his points from three-point range — 12 of them in a red-hot opening quarter that helped NLEX build an early cushion.

That cushion, however, nearly vanished.

Converge’s Comeback Bid Falls Just Short

Trailing by as many as 19 points at 23-42, Converge refused to fold. Fueled by a sustained charge from Mikey Williams and Calvin Abueva, the FiberXers stormed back to seize a 60-54 lead, flipping the momentum and rattling NLEX’s rhythm in the process.

“I think in the second quarter we went away from what made us successful in that first quarter,” NLEX coach Jimmy Alapag admitted. “I thought their physicality went up a notch in that second quarter, they slowed us down defensively, and I thought we went away from our ball movement … and that’s not how we want to play.”

Alapag’s halftime challenge paid off. NLEX steadied itself, clawing back to force a second and final tie at 88-all entering the fourth quarter before Winston and Jones took over down the stretch.

“That was my challenge to the guys in the second half. I know Converge had a tough loss in their last game, and we expected them to come out and play really well, and they did,” Alapag said. “But I thought Schonny really did take the game over, together with Berto, in the second half to get the win.”

Jamaal Franklin fought valiantly for Converge, finishing with 26 points, seven rebounds and six assists, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a third straight loss. The defeat — following a heartbreaking 107-110 setback to TNT last Tuesday — drops the FiberXers to 3-3 in Group A.

NLEX will look to keep its unbeaten campaign rolling in its next assignment, while Converge faces a must-win mentality against San Miguel Beer on Wednesday as it tries to right the ship.