EXPECT more than sparks to fly when surging Phoenix Super LPG and Converge put their winning streaks on the line in their collision Wednesday in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
A sixth straight win in nine games would give the FiberXers a 7-2 record overall and boost them up to second-running spot.
Also aiming to run their winning streak up to six are the Fuel Masters, who want nothing more than to jack their own slate to 6-3 and stay firmly ensconced at fifth before taking on league giants Magnolia and San Miguel Beer in a week's time starting Saturday.
Considering what's at stake and that both protagonists prefer similar styles of play, chiefly applying unrelenting pressure on their opponents, there should be action a-plenty in the matchup. Even Converge coach Aldin Ayo expects it to be so.
"It will be like a collegiate matchup," said Ayo, citing he is well aware of the Phoenix system being implemented by head coach Topex Robinson and the latter's chief deputy, Jamike Jarin.
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"Nakikita ko lahat ng ginagawa nila ngayon," added Ayo. "I'm familiar with them and they're familiar with me also. We have the same approach so it would be an exciting game. Pagtratrabahuhan namin, paghahandaan namin."
Indeed, Phoenix has completely put its 0-3 start to the conference behind it after what Robinson termed as making sure the extra effort is there against the other side, as evidenced in the course of his team's 91-88 win over TNT last Oct. 30.
"We know that the only way to win against a strong team like TNT is to outwork them," said Robinson following the Tropang Giga game.
Robinson was also quick to remind his players that the road ahead remains strewn with hardships. "We took away 'easy' in our vocabulary and even if we're winning, we just keep on pushing these guys and these guys are also pushing us coaches to get better," he said.
"We still have a lot of work to do. We know that it's gonna be harder the next time because we're gonna play Converge, which is also playing well."
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It is now up to his Fuel Masters to continue wearing their hardhats and remain focused so that they could also repay those whose trust in them never wavered. "Winning is the by-product of what we're doing," Robinson pointed out.
"We know we have tougher teams to play. Next three teams for us would be hard, but we've got to appreciate the people who support us," added Robinson. "We're blessed and we wanna make sure we are also a blessing to others with the way we play."
