NLEX has turned heads with a souped-up lineup that has made it among the leaders in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup.
The Road Warriors sit in a share of second place with Barangay Ginebra in the team standings prior to their game against Rain or Shine on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
If they continue their winning ways, the Road Warriors could find themselves at No. 1 at the end of the elimination round, with twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
Crucial NLEX-Rain or Shine tiff
The Road Warriors' drive for the No. 1 seed will begin on Wednesday when they face Rain or Shine (8-1), which has been in first place for the majority of the conference after stating out with seven straight wins.
For NLEX to have a strong chance at No. 1, the Road Warriors must beat the Elasto Painters on Wednesday, which would give them the tiebreaker among the teams which end the elims with only two losses.
There is a chance that NLEX, Barangay Ginebra, and Rain or Shine would end up tied at first place with a win-loss record of 10-2, but the Road Warriors already have the inside track at the No. 1 seed owing to their 118-113 win over Ginebra last March 27.
And even if Meralco somehow ends up the eliminations with only two defeats, NLEX would still be at No. 1 because the Road Warriors defeated the Bolts in overtime, 104-101, last April 17 on a buzzer-beating three by Ljay Gonzales.
Of course, a loss by NLEX to Rain or Shine would make the job of securing the No. 1 seed in the quarterfinals a lot more difficult since the Road Warriors will still face a desperate Converge side on May 2 and Titan Ultra on May 5.
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