NLEX eyes No. 1

With a twice-to-beat bonus already in hand, NLEX will get its motivation in bagging No. 1 seeding for the first time in franchise history when the Road Warriors battle back-to-the-wall NorthPort Wednesday in the PBA Governors’ Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

A win in the 4:30 p.m. clash with the Batang Pier would basically give the Road Warriors top-seeding for the first time in their PBA existence—and the lightest possible foe in the first round of the playoffs which they would need to beat just once to enter the Final Four.

The Road Warriors would also be putting a five-game winning streak on the line against a shorthanded NorthPort side that needs to sweep its last two games to entertain thoughts of advancing past the eliminations.

NorthPort will continue to play without star rookie point guard Robert Bolick, out for the next six months at least after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL.

“We need to preserve our gains by improving our consistency, and this game is a big test,” NLEX coach Yeng Guiao said. “Our focus is on execution and trying to get better for the next round.”

The Road Warriors are unbeaten since tapping Manny Harris as their new import. He will be put to another tough test by NorthPort’s Michael Quall, another tough scorer who will try to lead the Batang Pier yet again.

Meanwhile, Alaska, which has a two-game winning streak going, tries to fan its slim hopes of advancing—and put Phoenix Pulse out of its miseries—in the 7 p.m. contest.

With a 3-6 record, the Aces can earn at least a tie for the last playoff slot with a sweep of their last two games.

The Fuel Masters, on the other hand, are at 2-7 and are shooting for the moon in terms of a playoff appearance. Phoenix needs the right results—plus a sweep of its last two games—to advance.