Barring new measures to be implemented by the league due to the COVID-19 threat, the NLEX Road Warriors and the NorthPort Batang Pier clash in the mainer of the second play date of PBA Season 45 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.
On the eve of the Wednesday twin-bill that also features TNT KaTropa versus Phoenix Super LPG in the curtain-raiser, the PBA board of governors was to sit down in a meeting to discuss the health concern.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial didn't rule out possible postponement of play, saying he will present to the league governors all possible measures they may take and its repercussions.
If it's a go, all teams are expected to come out ready for battle, including the Road Warriors and the Batang Pier, two teams seen slugging it out in what could well be the most well-fought game last season.
In a rubber in their quarterfinals matchup in the 2019 Governors Cup, the Batang Pier outfought the Road Warriors in a triple-overtime grind-out to advance to the semifinals.
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The Batang Pier hope to keep the momentum of that Final Four windup with an intact core led by Christian Standhardinger and Sean Anthony, do-it-all Fil-foreign players who made the Mythical First Team in the recent Leo Awards.
Balik-NorthPort Kelly Nabong, former Meralco Bolt Garvo Lanete, ex-Columbian Dyip Jerramy King and rookie acquisition Sean Manganti are the new mix in coach Pido Jarencio's team that still includes Robert Bolick, Jervy Cruz, Nico Elorde, Kevin Ferrer, Jonathan Grey and Paolo Taha.
NLEX is an old brew, except for the loss of Poy Erram.
But even with the departure of Erram, the Road Warriors are hopeful of a competitive campaign. They're determined to compete and be a championship contender in what could well be the farewell rides of veterans Asi Taulava and Cyrus Baguio.
"Asi and Cyrus are being evaluated if they can still make a contribution. We would want to give them a good sendoff kung sakali if they prefer to hang up their sneakers after this conference or this year," said NLEX coach Yeng Guiao.
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Even minus Erram, Guiao is positive with the cast of players at his disposal led by Kiefer Ravena, who's back from long FIBA suspension and has shown he's still a lethal weapon in his stint with the national team in the SEA Games.
Kevin Alas is also back and he's determined to make up for lost time due to injury.(SB)
