WILL today be the final curtain call of one of the league’s most storied franchises?
That will be known when Alaska fights for dear against NLEX in a match kicking off the quarterfinals of the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The game is set at 3 o’clock, with the No. 2 Road Warriors trying to make good use of their twice-to-beat advantage and show the seventh-ranked Aces the door, for good.
Third seed TNT, also armed with a win-once incentive, squares off with No. 6 and defending champion Ginebra in the nightcap at 6 o’clock.
Alaska is bidding the pro league goodbye at the end of the season-ending tourney and will certainly have its hands full against NLEX.
The Aces muffed their chance of finishing in the top four after losing their last two games, counting a 99-104 defeat to Phoenix Super LPG last March 4 to end their elimination round campaign with a 6-5 record.
Like their foes, the Jeffrey Cariaso-mentored quintet will also parade a new import in Mark Saint Fort.
Saint Fort, 33, recently saw action for Fukushima in the Japan B. League second division last year and for the Bahamas national team early this year.
The Road Warriors wound up with an 8-3 card in the eliminations, including a 115-113 victory over the Kings last March 4, thanks largely to the stellar play of import KJ McDaniels.
But NLEX will have to make do without the 6-foot-6 McDaniels, who flew home to the United States to be with his expectant girlfriend and will parade a new reinforcement in Cameron Clark.
