#PBA2015 GOVS CUP PREVIEW: NLEX ROAD WARRIORS vs RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO-PAINTERS – RISE FROM THE RABBLE
NLX and ROS are currently mired in the bottom half of the team standings. At 2-5, NLX is at eleventh place, while at 3-4, ROS is tied for seventh place. Both teams need to rack up the wins fast to secure their spots in the next round of the conference. NLX, in particular, needs to get on the winning track. A few more losses and they could get eliminated already. ROS, meanwhile, has won its last two games after going 1-4 to start the conference. Without a doubt, the Painters want to build on that momentum, continue winning, and land in a good position for the quarterfinals.
In two previous meetings this season, ROS has shown mastery of NLX, beating the Road Warriors in both games. The contests have been close, though, so this promises to be another pretty tight affair.
Previous results:
PHL Cup
ROS beat NLX, 96-91
COMM Cup
ROS beat NLX, 95-93
- KWAME ALEXANDER: TURN IT UP A NOTCH
Import Kwame Alexander has been solid for NLX lately, but he will need to turn it up a notch if the Road Warriors are to really make much more noise moving forward.
vs SMB: 21pts, 13rebs, 1ast, 3blks, 10/18 FGs
Stats: 23.3ppg, 14.7rpg, 2.0bpg
- MICHEL MADANLY: SYRIAN SNIPER
Much is expected from Madanly and so far he has delivered when healthy. He’s been on a hot streak lately and he will need to continue making those buckets especially against a tough team like ROS.
vs SMB: 24pts, 3rebs, 6asts, 4 triples
Stats: 18.5ppg, 3.3rpg, 3.0apg, 2.7 triples per game
- ASI TAULAVA: FORTY-YEAR OLD BEAST
Asi is already 42 but he is still among the best big men, among the best players, in the PBA. It sure looks like he’s drinking from a mystery fountain of youth that just makes him a forty-year old beast in every game. ROS has to watch out for him in the paint.
vs SMB: 20pts, 7rebs, 3asts, 57.1 FG%
First 2 games: 5.5ppg, 9.5rpg, 23.5 FG%
Last 5 games: 20.4ppg, 10.0rpg, 48.8 FG%
- WENDELL MCKINES: TAKE OVER TIME
McKines has been a good import so far for ROS, but you get the feeling he is still leaving some in the tank. The balik-import really needs to take over, as much as possible, in every game for his team to reach its potential.
2013 Stats: 29.7ppg, 15.1rpg, 3.2apg, 49.6 FG%
2015 Stats: 27.1ppg, 13.6rpg, 1.9apg, 1.0spg, 1.4bpg, 55.8 FG%
- PAUL LEE: GOTTA BE LEETHAL
Hampered by an ankle sprain he sustained in practice prior to the Blackwater Elite game, Lee wasn’t able to put up anything in ROS’s win over TNT. Still, if he’s much better now, he will, once again, need to take on a major role for the Painters in this key game against NLX.
Stats before TNT game: 13.8ppg, 5.0rpg, 4.2apg, 1.5spg, 2.7 triples per game.
- RAYMOND ALMAZAN: STEPPING UP
Almazan stepped up big time in ROS’s last game, scoring in double-digits for the first time this conference. If he can continue to be a productive presence in the frontline and off the bench for ROS, they should be in good shape against NLX, especially since they will need Almazan’s size against Asi.
vs TNT: 10pts, 4rebs, 1ast, 1stl, 5/7 FGs
Stats: 6.1ppg, 3.9rpg, 50.05 FG%
- KEY MATCH-UP: MAC CARDONA X JEFF CHAN
One key match-up here will be between wingmen rivals Cardona and Chan. Cardona will try to score in transition and carve up those spaces in the lanes, while Chan will try to spread the NLX defense with his outside shooting. Whoever is more successful will surely give his team a big boost.
Cardona stats: 8.0ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.6apg, 1.0spg, 42.9 FG%
Chan stats: 8.0ppg, 5.0rpg, 2.3apg, 23.3 FG%
- KEY MATCH-UP: GABE NORWOOD X KG CANALETA
Another key match-up here is between opposing forwards Norwood & Canaleta. Norwood is the defensive anchor on the wings for ROS, while Canaleta is meant to spread the floor with his perimeter shooting. If Norwood can neutralize Canaleta and help out on Alexander, ROS will have the advantage here. Otherwise, KG and the rest of NLX may just toy with the Painters.
Norwood stats: 7.4ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.4apg, 1.7spg, 1.1 triples per game, 42.2 FG%
Canaleta stats: 7.0ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.4 triples per game, 40.0 FG%
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