MERALCO and NLEX square off in a game between two teams that are locked at second place in the team standings of the PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup.
Phoenix Super LPG and Blackwater also battle as struggling teams look to finish off their losing slide.
Preview of Friday's doubleheader at the distant Ynares Center-Montalban below.
PHOENIX SUPER LPG VS. BLACKWATER
When: Friday, April 17. 5:15 p.m.
Where: Ynares Center-Montalban
Out to break skid
Phoenix Super LPG and Blackwater will try to end their losing streak when they lock horns on Friday. The Fuelmasters (3-3) are on a two-game losing skid following a 109-96 defeat to Barangay Ginebra last Sunday. The Bossing (1-5) have lost three straight games, the last a 99-94 defeat at the hands of TNT last Tuesday.
Optimism at Blackwater
Blackwater entered a new era after Pat Aquino was elevated to interim head coach replacing Jeff Cariaso. The Bossing played a competitive game against defending champion TNT where they kept the match close until the end.
Panopio gets minutes
It looks like Dalph Panopio will play a vital part in the rotation of Pat Aquino having been given more minutes in his first game as head coach. The Season 50 No. 3 draft pick had 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals against TNT – one of his best games in his young PBA career.
Phoenix loses despite hot shooting
Phoenix Super LPG squandered an 11-point lead against Barangay Ginebra after being outscored, 32-21, in the fourth quarter. The Fuelmasters still lost despite shooting 15 threes with Kenneth Tuffin hitting six, Jason Perkins four, and Tyler Tio two.
MERALCO VS. NLEX
When: Friday, April 17. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Ynares Center-Montalban
Solo second on the line
Meralco and NLEX clash for solo second place. Both have 5-1 win-loss cards entering Friday's contest.
Coming off flat games
Meralco and NLEX had underwhelming games, ironically, against the cellar-dweller in the league in guest team Macau Black Knights. The Bolts barely survived Macau, 115-110, while the Road Warriors also downed Macau, 106-97, but not without the Black Knights taking leads in some stretches.
Off night for Banchero, Quinto vs Macau
Chris Banchero and Bong Quinto had forgettable outings against Macau. Banchero scored six points for the second time since his 17-point explosion against Phoenix, while shooting just 3-of-10, and missing all of his four three pointers against Macau. Quinto also struggled with his 1-of-5 clip for a conference-low three points.
READ Dalph Panopio at ease with new Blackwater coach Pat Aquino
Bahio back in form
JB Bahio was back to the form that got him an All-Star distinction this season after he had a conference-high 15 points and seven rebounds in the win over Macau. Bahio's recent explosion is just proof of how deep NLEX has become.
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