NLEX Knocks Out Phoenix from PBA Playoff Contention

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The NLEX Road Warriors officially closed the doors on the Phoenix Fuel Masters’ post-season hopes after scoring a much-needed 105-95 victory during their playoff-positioning clash in the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup on June 1, 2025, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

With the victory, the Road Warriors just booted out the Fuel Masters from the playoffs, while steering themselves to a chance of sealing a twice-to-beat advantage when the quarterfinal stage kicks off.

It was still anybody’s ball game as neither team was able to build a commanding cushion in the first three quarters. NLEX drew first blood with their three-point shooting, but the resilient Phoenix squad answered back with a much-improved defensive outing at the start of the third.

However, in the 4:51 mark of the third frame, the Road Warriors hosted a momentum-changing 9-0 scoring run that changed the complexion of the game when the final period began.

The duo of Javee Mocon and Robert Bolick did damage during that run, slicing and dicing their way to the hole that put the Phoenix frontcourt rotation in foul trouble.

With little resistance in their paint defense in the fourth after the Phoenix coaching staff did a front court rotation tweak to reserve their big men, the Road Warriors began to smell blood and attacked the shaded lane at will.

During the first seven minutes of the fourth, NLEX held their biggest lead of the ball game to 13 points, and didn’t allow Phoenix to regain ground and make another scoring avalanche just like in the second quarter.

Bolick iced the game for the Road Warriors, scoring in a variety of ways both inside and outside while Mocon struck the hammer with a huge three-pointer that protected NLEX’s lead to double digits until the final buzzer sounded.

Mocon was a key piece to NLEX’s huge win after the former NCAA champion dropped a near double-double stat-line of 23 points and nine rebounds.

Meanwhile, Bolick, who did it all in the win, almost notched a triple-double with 20 markers, eight rebounds, and seven assists.

The duo of JB Bahio and Anthony Semerad also came through when NLEX needed them the most as the 1-2 punch added 15 and 14 points, respectively.