The NLEX Road Warriors bucked a slow start on Wednesday to demolish the Titan Ultra Giant Risers, 147-115, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. This win is NLEX’s ninth and all but assures Jimmy Alapag will earn Group A’s top seed in his head coaching debut in this PBA Governors’ Cup. On the other hand, the loss sends Titan Ultra to the cellar with the hapless Macau Giant Pandas at 2-9.
What Happened?
NLEX and Titan Ultra went point for point in the first nine minutes of the opening frame until Tirrell Brown II and Aris Dionisio combined for an 11-4 end-of-quarter run that gave the Giant Risers a surprising 27-22 lead after one. A 7-0 start to the second quarter then gave Titan Ultra a double-digit lead at 34-22, which it pushed to 39-26 a minute later. The Giant Risers were still ahead, 41-31, at the 8:04 mark when the Road Warriors finally woke up, ending the half by outscoring Titan Ultra, 34-24, to tie the game at 65 going into intermission.
The second half was all NLEX. The Road Warriors came out of halftime energized and intense, clamping down on the Giant Risers to just 14 points while scoring 37 of their own to build a 102-79 lead after three. There was no let-up in the final frame as NLEX poured in 45 more to the Giant Risers’ 36 for a commanding victory.
Who Stood Out?
NLEX got contributions from nearly everyone, but Deonte Burton spearheaded the attack with a team-high 21 points spiked by 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. Robert Bolick starred as well, finishing with 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists. Sixth man Kevin Alas, meanwhile, sparked the Road Warriors in the first half and finished with 19 markers, while Ljay Gonzales and Robbie Herndon added 17 and 16, respectively, also off the bench.
On the other side, Joshua Munzon had himself a nice game, tallying a game-high 33 points on an efficient 9-for-16 clip while adding 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Brown, meanwhile, notched 29 points and 8 rebounds.
3 Keys to the Game
- Bench production. NLEX’s starters came out flat, and the bench provided a much-needed spark. Alas, Gonzales, and Herndon, in particular, played starring roles, combining for 52 of the Road Warriors’ 82 bench points. Titan Ultra, in contrast, got just 37 points from its second stringers—a 45-point gap.
- Transition game. After a slow start, the Road Warriors eventually got on the open court and played at their fast pace. The result was a 41-19 advantage in fastbreak points marked by easy lay-ups and transition treys.
- Depth. Titan Ultra gave NLEX a stiff challenge in the first half, holding a double-digit lead at one point and entering intermission tied. But NLEX’s talent and depth were just too much to overcome for a cellar dweller, who ultimately didn’t have the firepower to match the Road Warriors’ explosive second half.
Next Up for the PBA
Friday, October 16, 2026 | Ynares Center Antipolo
Converge FiberXers vs. Macau Giant Pandas (5:15 p.m.)
Meralco Bolts vs. Phoenix Fuel Masters (7:30 p.m.)
