Warriors eliminate Rockets in Game 7, set sights on Round 2
Buddy Hield exploded for 33 points, along with three rebounds, three assists, one steal, and two blocks to power the Golden State Warriors past the Houston Rockets, 103-89, in a do-or-die Game 7 on Monday, May 5 (Philippine time) at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
The sharpshooting guard was locked in all night, hitting 12 of his 15 attempts from the field, including a blistering 9-of-11 from downtown, providing the offensive spark the Warriors needed to close out the series.
Backed by Hield’s hot hand, Golden State came out with urgency and intensity, determined not to let their early 3-1 series lead slip away. Veterans Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler also rose to the occasion, delivering solid all-around performances to help secure the Warriors' place in the second round.
Curry tallied 22 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and two blocks — showcasing his leadership on both ends of the floor. Meanwhile, Butler brought his signature toughness and poise, contributing 20 markers, eight boards, seven dimes, and one deflection in the clutch.
Draymond Green, often the Warriors’ defensive anchor, made his presence felt on offense as well. He chipped in 16 markers while also collecting six boards, handing out five dimes, recording one deflection, and swatting away two shots — a complete effort that proved vital to the Warriors’ Game 7 success.
On the other side, Alperen Sengun fought valiantly for the Rockets, finishing with 21 points and 14 rebounds for a double-double. Amen Thompson paced Houston in scoring with 24 markers, while Fred VanVleet added 17, but it wasn’t enough to stop Golden State’s surge.
The opening quarter saw a tightly contested battle, with the Warriors holding a slim 23-19 edge after 12 minutes. But the second period was a turning point — Golden State tightened up defensively and found rhythm on offense, building a double-digit cushion heading into the half.
Houston made one final push in the third canto and early in the fourth frame, looking to rally behind their home crowd. However, the Warriors leaned on their experience and composure, never surrendering the lead and staying in control until the final buzzer.
With the victory, the No. 7 seed and Play-In tournament survivor Warriors now advance to Round 2, where they will face the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves starting May 7 (PH time) — setting up another must-watch playoff showdown.
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The NLEX Road Warriors wrapped up their preseason on a high note, clinching the 40th Kadayawan Invitational championship with a commanding 101-84 victory over the Blackwater Bossing on Sunday night, August 26, at the University of Southern Philippines in Davao City.
It wasn’t the smoothest of starts for NLEX, which found itself down by 11 early in the game. But the tide shifted in the second quarter, where the Road Warriors erupted for a 34-12 run behind the efforts of Robert Bolick, Dominic Fajardo, Tony Semerad, and Xyrus Torres to seize a 52-36 halftime lead.
Blackwater attempted a late push, cutting the gap to 76-65 in the fourth quarter, but NLEX responded with a 12-5 counter that put the game out of reach. Semerad, who buried three triples in the payoff period, earned Finals MVP honors with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Torres topped the scoring for NLEX with 19 markers, while Bolick came close to a triple-double with eight points, six boards, and nine assists. JB Bahio and Fajardo chipped in 12 and 10 markers, respectively. As a team, the Road Warriors torched the net from beyond the arc, going 18-of-34, with Semerad and Torres sinking four each.
Sedrick Barefield paced Blackwater with 15 points, while Richard Escoto added 14. The Bossing, despite falling short in the finals, had an impressive run in the preliminaries, including a comeback win over NLEX, 95-90, earlier in the tournament.
The championship serves as a timely boost for NLEX heading into the new PBA season. Last year, the Road Warriors finished second in the Philippine Cup eliminations before bowing out in the quarterfinals against Rain or Shine. Deputy mentor Adonis Tierra called the shots in their last two games, steering the team to become the second straight PBA squad to lift the Kadayawan crown, following Rain or Shine’s sweep in 2024. NLEX closed the tournament with a 3-1 card, their lone loss coming at the hands of Blackwater.
In the battle for third place, Phoenix avoided a winless campaign with a convincing 101-81 rout of Converge. Raffy Verano led the way with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Tyler Tio and Kai Ballungay contributed 17 and 15 markers, respectively. The win marked the first for new head coach Willy Wilson, who took over during the offseason. Coincidentally, Phoenix also defeated Converge for third place in last year’s edition of the tournament.
The NLEX Road Warriors and Blackwater Bossing opened their campaigns in the 2025 Kadayawan Invitational with victories in their respective first games on Thursday, August 21, at the USEP Gym in Davao City.
In the first game, Sedrick Barefield made an immediate impact for the Bossing. The 2024 second overall pick erupted for 28 points, including six triples. Three of those came in succession in the fourth quarter, turning a slim 72-66 lead into a more comfortable 81-68 cushion.
Troy Mallillin contributed 17 points and six rebounds, while newcomer Jed Mendoza impressed in his debut with 16 points.
For the Phoenix Fuel Masters, Jason Perkins and Kai Ballungay scored 12 points apiece in their first game under new head coach Willie Wilson, who took over from Jamike Jarin after he was moved to a team consultant role.
The East Asia Super League (EASL) is officially set to raise the curtain on its new season with a twin opening in Taipei and Tokyo on October 8, 2025 — a move that reflects the league’s expanding reach and growing stature as Asia’s premier basketball competition.
All eyes in Taiwan will be on the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium, which will host a blockbuster doubleheader featuring some of the region’s most decorated clubs.
The action tips off with a clash between the B.LEAGUE champions Utsunomiya Brex and the P. LEAGUE+ runners-up Taipei Fubon Braves. Utsunomiya, led by veteran guard Makoto Hiejima, entered as one of Japan’s most successful franchises. The Braves, meanwhile, look to prove their resilience after falling short in a grueling seven-game finals series last season, banking on the leadership of Chinese Taipei legend Lin Chih-Chieh.
The second game of the night brings a rematch between the P. LEAGUE+ champions Taoyuan Pauian Pilots and Japan’s Ryukyu Golden Kings. Their last encounter came in the 2025 EASL Final Four semifinals, where Taoyuan stunned Ryukyu, 71–64. This time, the Golden Kings are eager for redemption, while the Pilots hope to reaffirm their place among Asia’s elite.
Game schedule (HKT):
- Utsunomiya vs. Taipei Fubon – 6:30 PM
- Taoyuan vs. Ryukyu – 8:30 PM