WHEN NLEX goes up against TNT on Wednesday, the Road Warriors will look to avoid past playoff failures where they were ousted in the first round despite twice-to-beat advantage.
The Road Warriors have held twice-to-beat advantage thrice in the franchise's history, but were able to turn that incentive into playoff victory only once.
READ Top seed NLEX tunes out 'least favored' talk ahead of TNT playoff
It happened in the 2021 Governors’ Cup when NLEX, the No. 2 seed, was forced into a rubber match by No. 7 Alaska before coming away with a 96-80 win in the knockout game.
The Road Warriors, who took the No. 1 seed in the 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup with a 10-2 win-loss record, will look to avoid these past campaigns and advance to their third semifinal appearance for the franchise.
2019 GOVERNORS’ CUP
NLEX looked primed to advance to the semifinals after taking the No. 1 seed against NorthPort. But the Road Warriors not only lost the first game, 115-90, but also Poy Erram as he was ejected for a hit against NorthPort import Michael Qualls. Erram was then suspended for the rubber match, with NLEX losing the knockout game against NorthPort in triple overtime, 126-123. Christian Standhardinger had 31 points and 21 rebounds, and Sean Anthony had 30 points and 11 rebounds for the Batang Pier in handing a stinging setback to the Road Warriors.
Ironically, current NLEX star Robert Bolick was part of that NorthPort squad as a rookie but was inactive due to an ACL tear earlier that conference.
2025 PHILIPPINE CUP
NLEX claimed the second seed and a twice-to-beat incentive in the Season 49 Philippine Cup after the Road Warriors finished with an 8-3 win-loss record.
The Road Warriors lost a close one in the first game of the quarterfinals against Rain or Shine, 92-89, last June 18 when they gave up 20 points and 21 rebounds to Jhonard Clarito. NLEX couldn’t bounce back from that defeat as the Road Warriors once again lost to the Elasto Painters, 103-92, behind the 24-point performance of Santi Santillan.
NLEX still lost the game despite a monster game from Bolick that saw him compile 34 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
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