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Jonathan Simmons. PBA PICTURES
ANTIPOLO CITY – Jonathon Simmons gave NLEX quite a parting gift on Saturday, leading the Road Warriors to a 98-94 victory over Phoenix and helping the club stay perfect in the young Governor’s Cup.
The NBA veteran, who is set to backstop the Chinese pro club, dropped 38 points and seven rebounds, and five assists in the farewell game which greased NLEX March to the top of the standings where it joined 4-0 Converge.
“This guy knows how to win games, and I will miss him. And he likes it,” said coach Frankie Lim in a conversation after the game at the Ynares Center here, still in awe of the American’s performance.
“We’re just trying to be consistent. It’s too bad that ‘Simms’ has to go,” he said.
After scoring 13 in the third quarter, Simmons kept running on the gas and scored nine more in the final frame where NLEX reclaimed the lead and then continued to put Phoenix to a 1-4 mark.
Tony Semerad had 16 points while Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser added 14 for NLEX for a real test against defending champion Barangay Ginebra on Wednesday.
Import Du’Vaughn topscored for Phoenix with 25 points, while Jason Perkins and RJ Jazul both finished with at least 13 more.
But with Simmons hell-bent on honoring his promise to Lim from the sweep of four NLEX games, Master Fuel never had a chance in the end.
Phoenix will try to bounce back there, but will have its work cut out for itself as Master Fuel takes on Magnolia next.
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