NLEX go for back-to-back wins, takes on Meralco
MERALCO and NLEX were on opposite ends of endgame breaks in their opening game.
The Bolts look to turn the corner while the Road Warriors are eager to see if their luck continues to hold out Saturday when they clash in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
A follow up by NLEX on its 99-97 overtime win over Alaska last Friday would give the Road Warriors additional momentum under new head coach Yeng Guiao, something the seven-time champion tactician wants.
“We’re trying to build momentum,” said Guiao, whose first official win with the Road Warriors was made possible by sterling performances from holdovers Sean Anthony and Jonas Villanueva and new acquisitions Bradwyn Guinto and Carlo Lastimosa.
“It would be a positive validation of our progress if we can put together back-to-back wins.”
For its part, Meralco wants to bounce back from an 84-86 loss to Blackwater last Sunday, a defeat caused by Mac Belo playing another splendid all-around game preserved by Denok Miranda’s twisting layup in the last four seconds.
Guiao said the Bolts would sure try to bounce back, but his charges are equally determined. “Meralco is last conference’s finalist. As a team they have more experience than we have,” he stated.
“But we are eager to prove that we are improving and that we can play at their level.”
How Cliff Hodge, Chris Newsome and rookie Jonathan Grey fare after relatively splendid performances in their first game should be key for the Bolts.
Against Blackwater, Hodge had a near-triple double of 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, Newsome notched 11 points and nine boards and Grey upstaged Ed Daquioag with 11 markers, five more than the Gilas Cadet player.
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