MAKING some adjustments needed for a quick turnaround is the common goal of NLEX and Blackwater when they collide Saturday in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The Road Warriors and the Bossing aim to put behind them sorry losses in their opening game and get on the winning track in the mid-season conference.
To hit their respective targets, both NLEX and Blackwater need to do some tinkering in their first games last Thursday that took on eerily similar tones.
The Road Warriors absorbed an 87-114 drubbing from NorthPort after an Arvin Tolentino-led surge by the Batang Pier in the two middle quarters.
In said stretch, NLEX went 12-of-35 from the field while committing 14 of its total 21 turnovers to fall into a very deep 67-91 hole going to the last 12 minutes of play.
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Blackwater also found itself a 100-118 victim to Magnolia after dismal performances in the second and third periods that pale in comparison to the ones put up by the Hotshots.
Jerick Ahanmisi was at the forefront of a 21-14 second quarter assault by Magnolia that pulled it out of a 29-27 count before Ricardo Ratliffe took over in the third with 15 of his 30 points to power the Hotshots into an 82-69 cushion heading into the fourth.
In those two quarters, Blackwater shot just 17-of-47 from the field compared to Magnolia's sizzling 20-of-32 clip.
In both those games, it is clearly obvious that both NLEX and Blackwater need to exert more effort not only on the defensive end but more so on offense.
George King sizzled for a game-high 42 points for the Bossing, but was held to a lowly 16-of-36 field goal clip, while Sedrick Barefield fired 24 markers but only on an 8-for-20 shooting.
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For its part, NLEX had import Mike Watkins marking his league debut with 29 points and 19 rebounds but got little support from the locals.
Robert Bolick should also be under the microscope after dishing out nine assists for the Road Warriors but held to just three points on a 1-of-11 shooting before sitting out the entire fourth quarter. (NC)
