The PBA Philippine Cup continued with thrilling basketball action on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City, where two standout players propelled their teams to crucial victories just before Typhoon Uwan forced postponements of Sunday's scheduled games.
NLEX Dominates Rain or Shine Behind Bolick's Stellar Performance
The NLEX Road Warriors delivered an impressive performance against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, securing a convincing 105-91 victory that boosted their standing in the tournament. The team's success was largely driven by Robert Bolick, who earned Best Player of the Game honors with an outstanding stat line of 28 points and 6 rebounds.
This important win elevated the Road Warriors to a 5-2 win-loss record, positioning them firmly in second place in the team standings, trailing only the league-leading TNT Tropang Giga who hold a 5-1 record.
Bolick received significant support from his teammates, with JB Bahio contributing a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds. Xyrus Torres added 15 points to the scoreboard, while both Jonnel Policarpio and Dominic Fajardo chipped in 10 points each.
The Road Warriors demonstrated exceptional shooting accuracy throughout the game, converting 49.4 percent of their field goal attempts. Meanwhile, Rain or Shine struggled offensively, managing to make only 38.6 percent of their shots from the field.
Stockton's Clutch Plays Secure Converge Victory
In another exciting matchup, the Converge FiberXers narrowly escaped with a hard-fought 99-94 win against the Blackwater Bossing. Alec Stockton emerged as the hero for Converge, matching Bolick's scoring output with 28 points of his own while making critical plays in the game's final moments.
Stockton's composure under pressure proved decisive when he sank four consecutive free throws in the closing seconds. The final two free throws came after he forced Christian David into a foul, giving Converge a 98-94 advantage with just 5.3 seconds remaining on the clock.
This victory improved the FiberXers' record to 4-2, strengthening their position in the tournament standings. Juan Gomez De Liano provided valuable support with 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, while the duo of Justine Baltazar and Justin Arana combined for 22 points and 28 rebounds.
Typhoon Forces Schedule Changes
The PBA announced that all games scheduled for Sunday, November 9, would be postponed due to the approaching Typhoon Uwan. This precautionary measure was taken to ensure the safety of players, staff, and fans as the storm threatened the region.
Both winning teams expressed satisfaction with their performances, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding future games due to weather conditions. Robert Bolick commented after his team's victory, "I just did my best. I'm thankful that we got the win." He added, "It's been a while since I was named Best Player, so I'm happy."
Despite the strong individual performances from Stockton and Bolick, Blackwater's Sedrick Barefield also delivered an impressive showing in the losing effort, scoring 33 points and dishing out 5 assists. The loss dropped the Bossing to a disappointing 1-5 record in the tournament.
