Road Warriors test Rising Suns today
ATENEO star Greg Slaughter finally gets going for three-time champion NLEX when the Road Warriors tangle with the Cagayan Valley Rising Suns in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup today at JCSGO gym in Cubao.
Cleared to play by the Commissioner’s office only last week, Slaughter adds more muscle to the already formidable Road Warriors in their bid for a seventh win at 2 p.m. against the Rising Suns.
Blackwater Sports—toting a 3-1 card behind the 4-1 records of Cagayan and Big Chill—also hopes to stay in the top four against Informatics in the first game at 12 noon.
NLEX is actualy aiming to stretch its record 23-game unbeaten run and coach Boyet Fernandez said the addition of Slaughter is timely against the Rising Suns, this conference’s surprise performer, who just last season, had a winless maiden stint.
“We badly need Greg’s presence because Cagayan is the league’s top rebounding team,” Fernandez said of Slaughter, the seven-foot Filipino-American who had to secure some documents to be able to play.
The Rising Suns, bannered by Chris Exciminiano and Raymond Almazan, lead the league in rebounds (55 rpg), blocks (6 bpg), fastbreak points (21ppg) and second chance points (18 ppg).
“Our players are very confident,” said Cagayan coach Alvin Pu.
The Road Warriors—powered by collegiate stars Nico Salva, Ian Sangalang, RR Garcia, Ronald Pacual, Baser Amer and Kevin Alas—are coming off a huge 24-point triumph over Big Chill, 91-67, in a rematch of last conference’s finals last Thursday.
