GAMES TODAY
(Ninoy Aquino Stadium)
5 p.m. – NLEX vs. NorthPort
7:30 p.m. – SMB vs. Converge
IT’S human nature—falling into the traps of complacency—that NLEX coach Jong Uichico wants his charges to thwart.
“The main goal is to get better every day. You still have to remain sharp, despite being in the quarterfinals, twice-to-beat,” Uichico said. “Kailangan sharp minds, sharp physically. Kasi minsan kapag maaga ang pagpasok mo, medyo you lose a little bit of focus.
“So, reminders lang every day, to keep your focus and bear in mind what the real goal is,” he added.
Whether the Road Warriors can heed the call will be known when they take on the also-ran NorthPort Batang Pier today in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
The match is set at 5 p.m. with NLEX already assured of a top-four finish with an 8-2 mark and a win-once incentive in the quarterfinals.
Long out of the playoffs after a disappointing eight-game losing skid with only a lone victory to show, NorthPort intends nothing but to end its campaign on a winning note.
San Miguel Beer and Converge cross paths in the nightcap at 7:30 in a duel with crucial repercussions in the protagonists’ bids of propping up their best four goals.
The Road Warriors will go into the tiff armed with a gutsy 107-99 victory over the Magnolia Hotshots last Friday.
Despite the likes of Anthony Semerad, Javee Mocon, Dominic Fajardo and Matt Nieto nursing an assortment of injuries, Uichico’s quintet is expected to show up with its A-Game.
“Do we rest them? Do we play them? Medyo may sakit-sakit talaga. So, game day decision sila. Maraming hindi namin kontrolado, pero still hindi naman magbabago ang approach natin sa laro,” he said. “We will approach it like a game we should win, for another improvement in our game.
“We will still approach it like a bearing game, in terms of us continuing to improve pa.”
Main man Robert Bolick, Xyrus Torres, Brandon Ramirez, Jonnel Policarpio, JB Bahio, and Kevin Alas will be hard-pressed to show the way for NLEX.
NorthPort is smarting from a 107-118 loss to Phoenix last week and will pin its hopes on Joshua Munzon, Damie Cuntapay, Calvin Abueva, Jio Jalalon, and Cade Flores.
The Beermen downed the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 120-111 last Saturday in Cagayan de Oro City which raised their card to 7-2.
Reigning eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Don Trollano, Marcio Lassiter, and Juami Tiongson will spearhead SMB’s attack.
The other squads that have clinched slots in the Last Eight should take a cue from the Road Warriors—do not slow down.
