NLEX shoots for playoff berth vs RnW

MANILA, Philippines—A resurgent NLEX squad guns for a playoff for the second automatic semifinal berth when it tangles with RnW Pacific Pipes Thursday even as PC Gilmore tries to sustain its drive for a place in the postseason in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at the Meralco Gym.

The Road Warriors, coming off a 77-54 conquest of Boracay Rum last Tuesday, seek their sixth straight victory and their seventh overall in eight games at 2 p.m. against the Steel Masters, who are in the thick of the fight for a twice-to-beat bonus in the quarterfinals.

While the Road Warriors all but wrapped up their spot in the quarterfinals and are within reach of the last four, the Wizards are barely clinging to slim hopes of surviving the elimination round.

They face another stern test against a well-rested Blackwater squad in the 12 noon first game. With a 3-5 record, the Wizards need to sweep their remaining three games to stand at least a chance of forcing a playoff for a quarterfinal spot.

It’s an uphill climb, but PC Gilmore coach Art Dela Cruz feels his team is capable of pulling it off.
PC Gilmore is coming off an 84-75 win against Dub Unlimited on Tuesday—a confidence-building win as far as Dela Cruz is concerned.

“Our goal is to sweep our remaining games,” said Dela Cruz, a rookie coach, who was a hard-nosed defender during his playing days. “We had our regular practice even during the holidays. We worked on our chemistry. Hopefully our hard work will pay off.”

The Elite also need the victory to keep them in the hunt for a twice-to-beat edge in the quarterfinals. They have not played since Dec. 5, but coach Leo Isaac was quick to dismiss that his players would come out rusty during the game.

“Our motivation is that we know what we can achieve not only in our game against PC Gilmore, but also in our remaining games in the eliminations,” said Isaac, whose squad suffered three straight defeats after a 3-0 start.”