PBA: Manny Harris, Kiefer Ravena star as NLEX hands TNT first loss

By Jonas Terrado

NLEX handed TNT KaTropa its first defeat behind a third quarter outburst by Manny Harris to take a 126-113 victory and clinch a quarterfinals berth Friday night in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Harris hit 20 of his 40 points in the third as the Road Warriors took command after a tight first half to become the second team to reach the quarters with their sixth win in seven games. He also six rebounds, nine assists and seven steals in 39 minutes.

Kiefer Ravena also played a major role with 16 points and 13 rebounds and Jericho Cruz added 15 points for NLEX, which made the quarters for the four time in nine conferences since coach Yeng Guiao took over in the 2016-17 season.

“We made sure we were prepared for them,” said Guiao, who added that he expected to see his team engage TNT in a defensive battle.

“I thought it would be a defensive game but it still became an offensive game,” he added.

McDaniels sizzled for 42 points with 13 rebounds, eight assists and three blocks but it was not enough as the KaTropa lost for the first time after starting the conference with seven straight wins.

Roger Pogoy added 35 for TNT, which lost captain Jayson Castro due to a minor strain on his Achilles.

Harris hit seven straight at one point during a 9-0 run that enabled NLEX to pull away with a 90-78 lead seconds before the end of the third.

Poy Erram, who added 14 points, got into the act by scoring off assists from Ravena and Harris. He also gave NLEX its biggest lead at 100-82 on a layup with over 10 minutes to go in the fourth.

The scores:

NLEX 126 — Harris 40, Ravena 16, Cruz 15, Erram 14, Quinahan 10, Paniamogan 8, Soyud 8, Miranda 6, Galanza 5, Fonacier 3, Ighalo 1.

TNT KATROPA 113 — McDaniels 42, Pogoy 35, Rosario 11, Trollano 10, Digregorio 6, Reyes 4, Taha 3, Vosotros 2, Castro 0, Washington 0, De Leon 0.

Quarters: 24-26; 51-53; 90-80; 126-113.

Source: Manila Bulletin