PBA: NLEX escapes TNT in OT, dedicates win to injured import

MANILA, Philippines—NLEX had to finish without import DeQuan Jones but still found a way to beat TNT, 118-111, in overtime in the PBA Governors’ Cup at Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo on Tuesday.

Jones suffered a serious leg injury at the 7:27 mark of the third quarter and had to be stretchered off the court, leaving the Road Warriors to go all Filipino in the face of Tropang 5G’s rally.

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An emotional coach Jimmy Alapag dedicated the victory, which put NLEX at 7-1 atop Group A, to their injured reinforcement.

NLEX import DeQuan Jones suffers a gruesome injury during the third quarter of the Road Warriors game against TNT at Ynares Center Antipolo. Jones already on his way to the hospital on an ambulance #PBA50 | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/Gf4uVkgyLn

— INQUIRER Sports (@inquirersports) August 11, 2026

“My deepest prayers go out to DJ. More than basketball, it’s the person,” Alapag said. “His value to this team goes far beyond the court. It’s the person, leadership and character so it’s heartbreaking to see him go down but I’m so proud of our guys.”

“I told them when DJ went down that the best thing we can do is to come out and fight for the rest of the game.”

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NLEX nearly let the win slip away in the dying moments of regulation after leading by as many as 14 points.

TNT took a 107-103 lead in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter before Robert Bolick launched a heavily guarded four-pointer from the right wing to tie the game at 107-all with 2.2 seconds remaining.

The Tropang 5G tried to win it on an inbound alley-oop to Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, but the attempt fell short. Ganuelas-Rosser grabbed the offensive rebound and tried again for the game-winner, only to fumble the ball and send the game to overtime.

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Overtime, however, belonged to NLEX with LJ Gonzales scoring six of his career-high 26 points to keep TNT at bay for good.

Bolick finished with 27 points and eight assists while Jones, before his exit, scored 23 with four rebounds. Schonny Winston and JB Bahio also chipped in 11 points each in the NLEX win.

TNT dropped to 4-4 and into a two-way tie with Converge for third place in Group A.

Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson posted a double-double of 30 points and 13 rebounds in the loss. Rey Nambatac and Jordan Heading had 28 and 17 points, respectively, while Roger Pogoy and Ganuelas-Rosser added 15 each.