The NLEX Road Warriors sustained their strong start in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup after grinding out a 112-105 victory over the Magnolia Hotshots on Sunday, March 15, at the Ynares Center.

The win pushed NLEX to a 2-0 record early in the conference while handing Magnolia its second straight defeat. The Road Warriors relied on balanced scoring and timely outside shooting to overcome a massive performance from Magnolia import Nuni Omot.

NLEX followed up its earlier 84-81 escape against Blackwater with another impressive showing that highlighted the team’s depth and offensive rhythm. Magnolia, meanwhile, dropped to 0-2 after also falling to Phoenix in its previous outing.

Balanced NLEX offense powers second straight win

Import Cady Lalanne led the Road Warriors with a strong double-double performance of 24 points and 11 rebounds. His steady presence in the paint anchored a well-distributed scoring effort from NLEX throughout the game.

Schonny Winston added 14 points and delivered the biggest shot of the night with a buzzer-beating triple that sealed the victory. Robert Bolick and JB Bahio also contributed 14 points each as the Road Warriors consistently found scoring options.

LJ Gonzales and Kevin Alas chipped in 13 points apiece while veteran Anthony Semerad finished with 11 points. Additional baskets from Xyrus Torres, Dominic Fajardo, and Kevin Racal highlighted the team’s balanced offensive attack.

NLEX’s outside shooting proved crucial in the tightly contested matchup. The Road Warriors knocked down 11 three-pointers and a four-point shot compared to Magnolia’s eight triples and one four-pointer.

Magnolia wastes strong start and Omot’s big night

Despite the loss, Magnolia came out strong and controlled much of the first half. The Hotshots built a 13-point lead midway through the second quarter and looked poised to dictate the pace early.

Magnolia surged ahead 56-43 during that stretch behind aggressive offense and solid execution. The team maintained its momentum late in the half and carried a slim 59-57 advantage into the break.

Omot carried the scoring load for Magnolia and finished with a game-high 32 points. His offensive output helped keep the Hotshots competitive throughout the contest.

Jerom Lastimosa added 23 points while Rome dela Rosa and Zavier Lucero contributed 17 and 16 points respectively. The trio provided much-needed scoring support as Magnolia attempted to protect its early lead.

However, Magnolia struggled to generate consistent production from its veteran backcourt. Paul Lee finished with only four points while Mark Barroca was limited to just three points on limited minutes.

NLEX takes control in the second half

Momentum began to shift in the third quarter as NLEX tightened its defense and improved its ball movement. The Road Warriors gradually erased Magnolia’s lead and began finding more efficient scoring opportunities.

NLEX eventually moved ahead and carried an 82-80 lead entering the fourth quarter. The game remained competitive before the Road Warriors delivered several key plays down the stretch.

A crucial three-pointer by Winston later pushed NLEX’s advantage to 111-103 and effectively put the contest out of reach. Magnolia attempted to respond but struggled to generate enough offense in the closing moments.

The Road Warriors maintained their composure in the final stretch and secured their second straight victory. With two wins to open the conference, NLEX has quickly positioned itself as one of the early teams to watch in the tournament.