NLEX sees its Wednesday game against San Miguel as a test ahead of its readiness for the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup playoffs.
The Road Warriors have already clinched a quarterfinal berth with their 9-2 win-loss record but a win against the Beermen will not only secure the No. 1 seed in Group A but will also give them momentum heading to the playoffs.
NLEX defeated San Miguel, 110-96, during their first round match-up on July 26.
PICK YOUR POISON: NLEX, San Miguel await Ginebra in quarterfinals
“It’s one of the best games that you can play before the playoffs,” NLEX coach Jimmy Alapag said. “You’re playing against a champion team, a team that has dominated here in the PBA for quite some time. So it will be a great test for our guys as we prepare for the quarters.”
In SMB, the Road Warriors finally plays gets a tougher assignment after lopsided victories over Macau, 138-78, and Titan Ultra, 147-115.
NLEX, however, came out flat in their game against Titan Ultra where the first half ended with a 65-65 tie. The Road Warriors finally displayed their usual game in the second half to finish by 32 points.
Alapag said they can’t afford the same kind of effort against San Miguel and even in the playoffs where they expect a highly-competitive match-up even though they will be up against a low-seed team in Group B.
“It’s important for our team to understand what we’re preparing for. We know we’re in the quarterfinals. We don’t know who we are playing yet but we know whoever it is will be a playoff-contending team.
"So kailangan ‘yung mindset and ‘yung effort namin should be in a playoff-type effort, and I don’t think that was the case in the first half [against Titan Ultra],” Alapag said.
Robert Bolick hopes the Road Warriors’ fortunes would change this time after playoff exits this season including a loss to San Miguel in the quarterfinals of the Philippine Cup and a shock exit at the hands of TNT despite being the No. 1 seed in the Commissioner’s Cup.
“Sabi nga ni coach, kahit ako, sinabi ko rin sa team, wala pa kaming napatunayan,” Bolick said. “So bakit kami magre-relax sa Titan ‘yung kalaban. Hindi pa naman kami nagse-semis. Hindi pa naman kami nag-finals.
"So dapat, every game, pina-practice namin na parang playoff game. So every game, dapat kailangan, nasa playoff mode na kami.”
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