NLEX tries to stretch its winning run to four and at the same time make official its entry to the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs when it tackles a Blackwater side with its own agenda Sunday in the Philippine Arena.
A victory by the Road Warriors would be their sixth in 10 games and should solidify their hold on fifth-running spot. They could even go higher should they prevail in their last elimination round game against TNT on Wednesday.
Just avoiding a last two placing in the eight-team quarterfinals, which carries with it a twice-to-win handicap over the top two seeds, is enough for coach Yeng Guiao.
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"We're trying to get to a spot where we make the next round and not playing a team with a twice-to-beat advantage," said Guiao following his crew's 96-89 win over Alaska last Sunday.
"Iyun lang siguro ang p'wedeng maging goal namin ngayon," added Guiao, "make the quarters and try to get to at least sixth place."
As it is, NLEX enjoys the advantage over former victims Barangay Ginebra, also 5-4, GlobalPort (4-5) and Phoenix (4-5), which can all catch Guiao's squad.
For its part, Blackwater also has its own mini-run going, having won two in a row, but has a more modest goal of just simply making it through.
"Ang focus namin, avoid the complications," said Elite coach Leo Isaac following his team's cruising 95-76 win over Kia just last Friday.
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Isaac was referring to the tiebreakers -- quotients and sudden-death playoffs -- which his team must go through should it remain deadlocked at eighth at the end of the elims.
"Kasi meron pa naman kaming chance, meron pa kaming dalawang games," added Isaac. "On our own if we can handle it properly then we can avoid complications and outright papasok kami sa next stage of the tournament."
Indeed, another win by the Elite would break them out of their current tie with the Fuel Masters and Batang Pier at eighth, boost them up to 5-5 and stoke their own bid for inclusion among those automatically advancing.
It will mark the second time NLEX will be playing at the sprawling venue in Bocaue, Bulacan, with the Road Warriors vividly remembering their 115-104 victory over the Batang Pier just last Christmas.
Blackwater has had more outings in the Iglesia Ni Cristo-owned facility, having twice squared off with Kia and Mahindra squads during the 2014-15 PBA debut and 2016-17 Philippine Cup elims.
To be sure his charges get re-acclimatized to the arena with its more than 51,000 seating capacity, Isaac said he has scheduled a practice session there Saturday.
"Para ma-feel muli namin iyung pakiramdam ng court ng Philippine Arena," stated Isaac. (NC)
