Unbeaten NLEX battles Blackwater in D-League finals

MANILA, Philippines –NLEX will try to inch closer to another perfect title romp, but the Road Warriors have to do it against the only squad that has beaten them in the Finals last year.

The Road Warriors, on track to duplicate their 13-0 championship run in 2012, expect another grueling series against defending champion Blackwater Sports at the start of the PBA D-League Foundation Cup championship playoffs Friday.

“Blackwater is playing its best basketball at the moment, so we have to prepare hard,” NLEX coach Boyet Fernadez said of the Elite, who snatched the crown from his Road Warriors in last year’s season-ending conference.

Game 1 of the best-of-three title round starts at 1:30 p.m. at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Blackwater coach Leo Isaac said his team is hardly fazed by NLEX’s unbeaten record and the team’s powerhouse form in the tournament so far.

“[The Road Warriors] also have their off days, and hopefully, we can catch them on their off day,” said Isaac.