NLEX, Globalport in a must win clash
NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez has long stressed the need for his players to heighten their sense of urgency, more so now that they are in the most crucial of stages of the PBA Governors Cup.
“Must win for us,” said Fernandez on the eve of his Road Warriors’ collision with the GlobalPort Batang Pier Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
A second straight win by NLEX would not only help ease the pain of its most recent two-game slide but also greatly enhance its chances of advancing to the eight-team quarterfinals.
GlobalPort is in a similar must-win situation since it needs to prevail against NLEX and Blackwater on Wednesday and hope the rfive wins it would wind up with are enough to push it through.
Fernandez believes the Batang Pier has what it takes to foil his own team’s bid.
“It’s a challenge for us to stop their big three, namely (Mike) Glover, (Terrence) Romeo and (Stanley) Pringle,” said Fernandez.
“Our defense is the key if we want to upset GlobalPort,” added Fernandez. “GlobalPort is one of the best offensive teams in the league right now.”
Indeed, the Batang Pier’s main cogs recently showed how lethal they could be, combining for 71 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds against Alaska just last Wednesday.
However, only Joseph Yeo with his 11 markers was the only visible help and the Aces won 133-106.
In stark contrast is NLEX in its latest win, a 111-99 triumph over Rain or Shine in a game where the Road Warriors came fighting back from 21 points down.
Henry Walker scored 23 points, eight below his average, but Garvo Lanete, Enrico Villanueva, Sean Anthony and Glenn Khobuntin chipped in at least 10 points apiece as the Road Warriors snapped out of back-to-back losses to Meralco and Phoenix.
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