NLEX defeats Magnolia, 107-99, secures twice-to-beat bonus

The NLEX Road Warriors secured a crucial victory over the Magnolia Hotshots, winning 107-99 and securing a twice-to-beat bonus in the PBA Philippine Cup on Friday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Despite trailing by as many as 19 points early in the game, NLEX made a strong comeback to lead 46-44 at halftime and eventually won despite Magnolia's late-game efforts.

Coach Jong Uichico expressed surprise and satisfaction with his team’s performance, noting that their hard work during practices is paying off.

Robert Bolick was instrumental in NLEX's third-quarter surge, scoring 25 points including two four-pointers, helping the team take an 80-70 advantage after three quarters.

Xyrus Torres added 22 points for NLEX, while Brandon Ramirez and Jonnel Policarpio contributed 18 and 12 points respectively off the bench, with Ramirez tallying a near double-double of nine rebounds as well.

Following their loss, Magnolia players William Navarro, Paul Lee, and Ian Sangalang faced online death threats from an Instagram account claiming to have lost a big bet; however, the PBA acted swiftly by escorting them out for safety.