Top seeds NLEX and Blackwater Sports seek to forge a title showdown when they clash against separate rivals in Game 2 of the PBA D-League Foundation Cup semifinal series at Ateneo’s Blue Eagle Gym.
Gunning for their fifth finals appearance in as many conferences, the Road Warriors try to finish off Big Chill in the 4 p.m. clash.
Blackwater will try to nail its first finals appearance when it tangles with Boracay Rum, which the Elite subdued, 79-69, in Game 1, earlier at 2 p.m.
The Road Warriors needed a strong fourth-quarter effort from Greg Slaughter to hold off the Superchargers, 66-59, in Game 1. But NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez expects a better performance from his squad in Game 2.
“If we play the way we did in Game 1 I don’t think we could win,” said Fernandez. “We’re just lucky to win in Game 1 and we’re lucky Greg (Slaughter) was around to save the day. We definitely have to play better in Game 2.”
Blackwater coach Leo Isaac said his players are ready to seize their chance of taking the franchise to the finals for the first time in four conferences.
“We have momentum on our side,” he said. “The one-day break, I guess, works in our favor. The guys are very motivated. We have an opportunity to make the Finals and we’ll definitely go for the clincher.”
The Waves are ready to pull out all the stops to force a deciding game with coach Lawrence Chongson vowing to give it their best shot in Game 2.
“We’ve got no other choice but to fight back,” he said. “I thought the nerves got the better of my boys in Game 1. But this is a best-of-three. It ain’t over till it’s over.”
Aside from having no answer to Slaughter, Big Chill also struggled with its shots in the final period. But coach Robert Sison is not giving up that easy.
“We will continue to do what we did right in Game 1 and make some minor adjustments,” he said. “We have to come out aggressive and double our intensity because it’s a no-tomorrow ball game for us.”