The NLEX Road Warriors won their fifth straight on Friday, dealing the Converge FiberXers a 119-107 rout at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The win moves NLEX just one victory away from sweeping the first round of the PBA Governors’ Cup and drops Converge to an even 3-3 after opening the conference with three straight wins.
What Happened?
NLEX rolled to a sensational start, outscoring Converge, 23-10, behind three triples from Anthony Semerad and eight quick points from DeQuan Jones. The Road Warriors’ second stringers then sparked the team later in the quarter, helping it extend the lead to 42-23 before ending the opening frame with a 42-27 cushion. Converge then returned the favor, with Calvin Abueva bringing energy and Mikey Williams firing 12 points highlighted by a pair of triples. Alec Stockton provided a spark as well to help the FiberXers enter halftime ahead, 64-63.
The third quarter was evenly matched, with the Road Warriors winning it by a hair, 25-24, to tie the game heading into the final frame. NLEX again seized control to start the fourth, with eight points from Schonny Winston fueling a 14-3 blitz that put the Road Warriors up, 102-91. Converge threatened again at 105-103, but NLEX responded with a 10-0 run, including eight unanswered from Jones alone, to restore order at 115-103. That stretch proved to be the difference-maker.
Who Stood Out?
Jones led the backbreaking run in the fourth and finished with 28 points and 9 rebounds. Among the locals, Winston shined the most, contributing 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, as well as leading that strong start to the fourth for NLEX. Robert Bolick, for the second straight game, was a rebound shy of a triple-double as he tallied 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Road Warriors’ chief playmaker. Semerad and Kevin Alas off the bench also came up big.
Converge, on the other hand, rode the all-around display of Jamaal Franklin, who had 26 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals. Williams added 18 points on four triples, while Abueva was a ball of energy off the bench and came away with 9 points and 12 rebounds.
3 Keys to the Game
- Three-point shooting. Once more, NLEX relied heavily on the three-ball and got rewarded, making 11 of their 24 attempts, while Converge converted just 3 of their 25. That’s a 24-point difference in shooting from downtown.
- Rebounding. The Road Warriors won the battle of the boards, 53-42, and it accomplished one important thing: It kept the FiberXers from running and speeding the game up, which is their preferred tempo where they’re at their best.
- Winston and Jones. Even with the final score and NLEX’s rip-roaring start, this game was actually tight in the middle quarters. But, behind the strong fourth quarters of Jones and Winston, the Road Warriors were able to pull away in the end.
Next Up for the PBA
Sunday, August 2, 2026 | Smart Araneta Coliseum
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters vs. Meralco Bolts (5:15 p.m.)
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel vs. Magnolia Hotshots (7:30 p.m.)
