NEW VENUE FOR OLD RIVALRY
There was a time when NLEX and Blackwater always crossed paths in the D-League.
It was always a fierce battle between the Elite and the Road Warriors, and the rivalry even went to two championship series.
Winning six D-League titles, the only time NLEX failed to capture the crown was against Blackwater in the 2013 Foundation Cup. The Road Warriors, though, would gain a measure of revenge in the 2014 Foundation Cup, when they were the ones to sweep the Elite before the two teams moved up to the big league.
This time, the two squads renew their rivalry when they clash Friday in the 2015 PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Both teams are struggling to find their rhythm, with NLEX losing three straight games since winning against Ginebra, while Blackwater is still winless after seven tries.
Game time is at 4:15 p.m.
Coach Boyet Fernandez said that there aren’t really any problems in his camp, and the third straight loss last Friday against Purefoods was once again a “learning lesson for every one.”
“We just have to improve, have to let the players understand our concept on defense. Ang dami pa naming kailangang pag-aralan. But we’re improving every day, so hopefully, we continue to learn and in the end, become a better team,” he said.
Purefoods was also the last team which dealt the Elite a loss on Tuesday. Though frustration is really mounting in the Blackwater camp, coach Leo Isaac was happier with the performance of his guys the last time around as they try to recapture the fighting spirit they developed in the off-season.
But moral victories can only do so much, and Isaac wants his wards to be hungrier for Blackwater to grab that elusive breakthrough win in the PBA.
“If there’s going to be one breakout win, it has to happen soon. Di ko naman masabi. Ayoko naman diktahan agad yung mangyayari sa amin, we have to play it one game at a time lang,” Isaac said. (RL)
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