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NLEX not taking ‘dangerous’ Meralco lightly
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PBA IMAGES
How to follow up a big win and gain the perks that go with it are gnawing at NLEX and Meralco as they gear up for their collision Tuesday in the 2016 Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The protagonists may be several rungs apart in the standings, but still share a common sense of urgency.
“We still have to continue working hard,” said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez, whose team is looking for a victory that would solidify its hold on fourth-running spot.
“We’re still fighting for our lives,” said Meralco coach Norman Black.
After opening the season with five straight losses, the Bolts finally stirred into life by beating Star 87-83 last Saturday.
Black added that the same mind-set of having to win each match and bringing the A-plus-game every time is a must for his team to stoke its drive from the cellar where it has languished for so long.
“Nothing has changed for us,” stated Black. “We still need to win as many games as possible.”
For its part, NLEX snapped out of a two-game slide by carving a 107-101 upset of heavy favorite Talk N Text last Friday, marking the first time since the former acquired the Air21 franchise before the start of last season that it won over its multi-titled sister team.
“We are happy we’re 3-2 but kailangan umangat pa. We have to continue working,” said Fernandez.
The Meralco match actually touches off a grueling schedule for NLEX, which takes on Alaska next, followed by GlobalPort and other pre-tourney favorites San Miguel Beer, Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine, prompting Fernandez to say the Meralco tussle “is the best chance for us to pick up a win.”
That doesn’t mean Meralco could be taken lightly.
“Meralco is still dangerous,” said Fernandez. “Even though it lost five straight it could still come back and it has shown so in that Star game.”
How NLEX’s inside game anchored on double-double machines Asi Taulava and Sean Anthony range up against Meralco’s Gary David-led offense should be gripping.
David has been on a blistering pace of late, averaging 28 points per game that jacked his conference norm to 21.17 an outing. He is Fernandez’s biggest concern.
“I’m worried about Gary David again waxing hot,” noted Fernandez. “Defensively we have to limit Gary. We cannot stop him, of course. All we could do is try and limit his production.”
Black said defense must also be prioritized by his charges.
“In our first five games there was a total lack of communication among our players on the court,” he stated. “We must keep working at it, especially against NLEX, which has been playing very well.”
Cliff Hodge, who is nursing a sprained right wrist, will see action but Jimmy Alapag, suffering from a bruised rib cage that caused him to sit out the Star game, remains a doubtful starter. (NC)
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