NLEX Road Warriors survive Terrafirma’s furious fourth-quarter comeback in Governors’ Cup thriller

The NLEX Road Warriors escaped a near-collapse on Sunday, July 12, 2026, edging past Terrafirma 101-100 in a heart-stopping finish at Ynares Montalban. After opening a 23-point lead in the second quarter, the Road Warriors—led by DeQuan Jones’ 30-point outburst—nearly succumbed to a 13-point fourth-quarter rally before Justin Strings’ missed three at the buzzer sealed their victory.

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How did NLEX nearly lose a game they dominated?

NLEX stormed out to a 65-48 halftime lead, thanks to five threes and Kevin Alas’ four-point shot, but Terrafirma answered with a 12-point fourth-quarter surge. CJ Catapusan, Strings, and Maverick Ahanmisi combined for four triples, cutting the deficit to 97-91 with 4:15 left. Robert Bolick’s clutch four-point play briefly restored a 10-point lead, but Terrafirma’s Tiongson and Ahanmisi chipped away, forcing Strings’ game-tying jumper with 42.7 seconds remaining.

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Who carried NLEX in the clutch?

Jones, who scored just two points in the fourth quarter, delivered 30 points overall, seven rebounds, four assists, and three blocks. Schonny Winston (13 points) and Bolick (12 points) provided secondary scoring, while Alas chipped in nine. Terrafirma’s Ahanmisi and Tiongson each finished with 19 points, while Strings posted a double-double (18 points, 13 rebounds) in the comeback attempt.

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What did Jimmy Alapag say about the near-disaster?

‘I have to do a better job—I didn’t do a very good job in the fourth quarter,’ head coach Jimmy Alapag admitted. ‘Terrafirma played great, and we barely squeezed this one out.’ The Road Warriors’ second straight win (2-0 in Group A) came after their franchise-record 114-75 rout of Macau last Friday, but Sunday’s game tested their resilience.

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What’s next for NLEX in the Governors’ Cup?

With the win, NLEX takes sole possession of first place in Group A, while Terrafirma drops to 1-1. The Road Warriors will look to build on this narrow escape, knowing another late-game scare could define their playoff push. Terrafirma, meanwhile, faces a tougher test next as they regroup from their near-upset.

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Key stats from the game

- Final score: NLEX 101, Terrafirma 100 - Quarters: 32-29, 65-48, 90-67, 101-100 - Top scorers: Jones (30), Winston (13), Bolick (12) for NLEX; Ahanmisi (19), Tiongson (19), Strings (18) for Terrafirma - Record: NLEX 2-0 (Group A lead), Terrafirma 1-1 - Location: Ynares Center, Montalban - Date: July 12, 2026