Nov 29, 2022

NLEX, Meralco duel for survival

NLEX has a very slim chance of making it through to the PBA Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals.

Coach Frankie Lim would rather have that than none at all as his Road Warriors battle the equally desperate Meralco Bolts crew Wednesday at the PhilSports Arena.

Meralco is aiming to get back on track and improve its record to 5-6 before winding up the eliminations against San Miguel Beer at eliminations end on Friday and hoping the six wins it would end up with are enough to automatically get it through to the next round.

For its part, NLEX wants to end its own elims campaign with a win that would boost its record to 5-7 and from there sit back while the final standings are determined.

If the stars align just, the Road Warriors could play off for the last spot in the eight-team quarterfinals. But Lim insisted they must first take care of their end.

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"Importante lang manalo muna kami, then saka na tingnan kung ano mangyayari," said Lim on the eve of the match.

NLEX's flagging hopes were fanned by a 120-117 overtime shocker over Barangay Ginebra last Friday, cutting short the Road Warriors' five-game slide and putting them in the company of Rain or Shine and Meralco as contenders for the last quarterfinals berth.

"As I've said, that was an extra special win against a powerhouse team like Ginebra and we cannot let that go to waste," said Lim. "Kailangan magandang follow-up so kailangan manalo uli sa Meralco."

Meralco's woes are compounded by the fact that center Raymond Almazan remains a game-time decision due to the right ankle sprain he suffered late in the course of a 96-108 loss to Magnolia just last Sunday.

Lim knows the Bolts are as desperate as his Road Warriors are and for them to have better chances his charges must reprise what they did so well against the Gin Kings.

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"Actually, ang nagpanalo sa amin sa Ginebra is our pre-game preparations. We did the same with Meralco, talagang hinimay namin to see what we can do defensively," related Lim.

"For sure, it's gonna be a battle. Survival iyon, eh, for both teams." (NC)