FILE–NLEX Road Warriors. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
NLEX and Blackwater posted contrasting victories over fellow PBA teams to begin their respective campaigns in the Kadayawan Invitational Basketball Tournament on Thursday in Davao City.
The Road Warriors weathered the comeback of the Converge FiberXers, 95-88, while the Bossing earlier defeated the Phoenix Fuel Masters and their new coach Willy Wilson, 94-81, at University of Southeastern Philippines Gym.
READ: Four PBA teams join Kadayawan Invitational in Davao
Richie Rodger’s three broke an 88-all tie with 1:31 left in the fourth quarter, helping propel NLEX to victory over Converge, which came back from a double-digit deficit behind Alec Stockton.
Sedrick Barefield, on the other hand, sparked Blackwater’s pullaway in the final period with three straight triples after Phoenix got to within three, 68-65.
The results put the two teams in the early lead in the four-day invitational held as part of the city’s 40th Kadayawan Festival.
They’ll square off on Thursday at the same venue for a chance to close in on the spot in the championship game while Phoenix and Converge go for their first victory in the curtain raiser at 5 p.m.
The top two teams after the single-round schedule will play in Sunday’s championship game while the bottom two will meet for third place.
All four PBA teams are using the tournament as part of preparations for the 50th season which tips off on Oct. 5.
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