NLEX finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel against gritty Ginebra last Sunday night.
“After four consecutive losses, it’s nice to get a win again, lalo na at sa Ginebra pa,” Road Warriors coach Frankie Lim gushed. “But we could have handled our last five minutes a lot better. “Sometimes, we make bad decisions. I felt we could have made better shots. But just the same, our guys didn’t give up and held their own,” he added.
Lim spoke after his charges carved out a 76-72 decision over the Kings that snapped a four-game losing streak and handed them their sixth win–and the sixth seed in the quarterfinals of the PBA Philippine Cup opposite No. 3 Meralco.
The first game of the race-to-2 Last Eight duel pitting NLEX and the Bolts gets going on Friday at a venue still to be announced by the pro league.
Meralco wound up with a similar 6-5 mark with the Road Warriors, but the Bolts finished higher due to the winner-over-the-other rule.
Fourth-ranked TNT takes on No. 5 Rain or Shine in the other best-of-3 quarterfinals series, while top seed San Miguel Beer will face the winner between NorthPort and Terrafirma, who will clash for the last playoffs berth tomorrow at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
The Beermen will enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals, ditto with the No. 2 Kings who will battle the seventh seed Magnolia Hotshots.
NLEX star Robert Bolick said the Road Warriors could not afford to fall to Ginebra.
“Four-game losing streak, buti na-stop namin. Natalo ang San Miguel kahapon (last Saturday) against Meralco, alam namin do-or-die na kami kasi kung matalo kami fighting for eighth spot kami.
“So, napaganda, best-of-three, sana tuloy-tuloy.”
Bolick wound up with 25 points, on top of six rebounds and eight assists while Richie Rodger chipped in 11 markers, six boards, and two dimes.
Against the Bolts, the Road Warriors should bring their A-Game.
“Mahirap kalaban ang Meralco. Sila ang tumalo sa malalakas na teams like Magnolia, Ginebra, and San Miguel. This team is very good, a defensive team,” Bolick said. “Kumpleto naman sila iyon nga lang pilay rin sila kasi wala si Aaron (Black) pero pilay rin kami wala si Kevin (Alas)
“For sure iyong iba sa kanila magi-step up. Tinalo nga nila ang San Miguel.”
Christian Standhardinger paced the Kings with 19 points, 10 caroms, and seven feeds, while Japeth Aguilar had 15 markers.
Maverick Ahanmisi also contributed 14 points for Ginebra.
For Lim, NLEX has to show its resolve after failing to score for over seven minutes in the fourth quarter.
“It’s more of making good decisions and right plays at the right time,” he said.
