NLEX import Mike Watkins tries to attain inside in opposition to Hong Kong Japanese within the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web
MANILA, Philippines–NLEX assured itself of a minimum of a playoff for the No. 8 seed within the quarterfinals whereas eliminating San Miguel Beer from rivalry after defeating Hong Kong Japanese, 94-76, Wednesday within the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Sensible Araneta Coliseum.
Import Mike Watkins powered his solution to 41 factors, 14 rebounds and two blocks whereas Robert Bolick added 21 because the Street Warriors received their third in a row to conclude the elimination part with an excellent 6-6 document.
Article continues after this commercial
The end result despatched the Beermen out of the playoffs for the primary time because the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup, ending a streak of twenty-two straight conferences.
READ: PBA: Mike Watkins retains NLEX’s combat going
San Miguel completed with a 5-7 document after a tumultuous convention that noticed a training change from Jorge Gallent to Leo Austria plus numerous import modifications.
NLEX can safe the quarters berth outright if Magnolia falls to Meralco in Friday’s match at Philsports Enviornment in Pasig Metropolis. The Hotshots have a 5-6 document.
Article continues after this commercial
The Street Warriors may even sneak at No. 7 within the occasion the Hotshots win and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, who carry a 6-5 document, lose on the identical day to the TNT Tropang Giga.
Japanese fell for the second straight time and completed the elims at 7-5, that means that it may presumably drop to seventh if Rain or Shine prevails as a result of a tiebreaker.
READ: PBA: Fatigue taking its toll on busy Hong Kong, says coach
Import Chris McLaughlin had 18 factors, 17 rebounds, 5 assists and two steals for the Hong Kong facet, which has been on a grueling stretch with the Hong Kong A1 Championship and East Asia Tremendous League a part of its schedule.
Issues appeared bleak for NLEX after dropping to 3-6 with a fifth consecutive defeat.
However the Street Warriors, behind Watkins and Bolick with assist from Xyrus Torres, Javee Mocon, Kevin Alas and rookie Brandon Ramirez, posted victories over the Phoenix Gasoline Masters and Elasto Painters, organising their mastery of Japanese.
