Blackwater, NLEX shoot to bolster q’finals bid
On the outside looking in from the top eight, Blackwater and NLEX are both gunning to have a happy Easter when the two teams collide on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Both the Elite and the Road Warriors sit at three wins and need all the victories they can get to make it to the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.
NLEX is currently at ninth with a 3-4 slate, while Blackwater is at 10th with a 3-5 record. Game time is at 3 p.m.
Coach Boyet Fernandez is hoping that the two-week break will be enough for the Road Warriors to shake off their bad start in their 85-80 defeat to TNT last March 13.
“The players’ mental preparation has to be there every game, and it’s just a matter of executing our game plan,” he said. “Konting konti pa na push para maging consistent kami. We’re trying to make things so that we’ll be consistent. It will take time, but we’ll get there.”
But it’s the Elite who has to find better groove following a 106-83 defeat to Meralco last March 18.
Import MJ Rhett struggled mightily in that outing, failing to score a field goal for the whole game and only ending up with eight points in that matchup.
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.