WITH a win the last time out after five straight losses and coupled with back-to-back losses by San Miguel Beer, the NLEX Road Warriors are suddenly back in the hunt.
Back from the grave, the Road Warriors will now try to make the most of the opportunity.
Versus Rain or Shine on Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, coach Jong Uichico's troops will endeavor to take care of the first of last two games they must sweep for a shot at the last berth in the PBA Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals.
The Elasto Painters, meanwhile, try to pick up the pieces from a shattering loss to the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 92-120, and make a winning final push in the elims in a hope to at least land in the Top Six.
Coach Yeng Guiao's wards had been strongly contending for the Top Two - and the twice-to-beat bonus in the quarterfinals - until losing three of their last four outings and thus falling to seventh place at 6-4.
Guiao is hopeful they can still make the best-of-three quarterfinals, pitting No. 3 versus No. 6 and No. 4 opposite No. 5, if they can handle their last two assignments in the Road Warriors and the TNT Tropang Giga.
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The Road Warriors are in a different battle, up against the Beermen and the Hotshots in a rumble for the eighth and last spot in the quarterfinals.
At posting time, the three teams sport identical 4-6 cards.
NLEX's final hurrah are against ROS and Eastern. San Miguel will play Converge Friday then TNT Sunday while Magnolia tangles with Eastern Sunday then with Meralco on Jan. 31.
If two or three of them end up in a tie, the last quarters berth will be disputed in a sudden death.
Walloping Phoenix, 108-94, to end a five-game skid has kept NLEX's flickering hopes alive.
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Robert Bolick and his teammates are determined to make the most of it. (SB)
