July 29, 2017

NLEX tries to make it four in a row

NLEX has fond memories of Phoenix, having victimized the Fuel Masters in their last Commissioner's Cup game.

Whether the surprising Road Warriors can reprise that sweet feeling would be known Sunday when they collide with a Fuel Masters crew raring to get back on track in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

A fourth win in as many games by NLEX would solidify its hold on solo leadership while Phoenix is aiming not only to act as spoiler but also rebound from a sorry 91-100 loss to GlobalPort its last time out.

"We got to bounce back,"said coach Ariel Vanguardia, whose Fuel Masters started off listless against the Batang Pier and trailed by as many as 30 points to have their unbeaten start in the tourney cut short at two.

"We can't afford to start lethargic like in our last game," added Vanguardia. "NLEX is playing great basketball. We've got to outwork them."

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Indeed, NLEX has racked up five wins in all since ending the Commissioner's Cup with a two-game roll punctuated by a 116-114 decision over Phoenix last May 27.

With the Road Warriors' new additions almost completely blending in and providing leadership both on and off court and import Aaron Fuller proving to be the perfect fit, they have now notched a win-streak that is the longest under coach Yeng Guiao.

The grizzled tactician is quick to tone down expectations, however.

"It's still a learning process for us," said Guiao following a 122-114 double overtime victory over former tormentor Rain or Shine last Wednesday.

"It's a good feeling to win this type of a game, the opposite feeling of a losing streak which we have experienced before," added Guiao, whose tenure with the team also featured a 13-game losing skein spanning the Philippine Cup and the mid-season tourney.

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"But again it does not make us a contender this conference. We're not yet contenders. We're not yet at the top level of the other competing teams, not even Rain or Shine, not even Alaska, which we also beat. We're just having a good run."

Phoenix should prove to be a huge road block.

Eugene Phelps has been solid so far with a averages of a league-best 31.3 points on top of 15 rebounds and 2.7 assists.

Should Gilas standout Matthew Wright bounce back from a four-point performance, which saw him miss all his six tries from the fsield, in his conference debut last Wednesday, and the likes of RJ Jazul, JC Intal and Cyrus Baguio also deliver then NLEX should be in for a long night.

The hard-working Fuller, on the other hand, has been has been a tower of power for the Road Warriors with his own averages of 29 points and a tournament-best 19.67 rebounds.

Kevin Alas has also been consistent with 19 points, 7.67 boards and 3.33 assists while the likes of JR Quinahan, Carlo Lastimosa, Asi Taulava and Alex Mallari could be counted on to chip in when called.