NLEX and Converge aim to keep their spots in the upper echelon of the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup when they square off against separate foes at the PhilSports Arena on Thursday, Feb. 23.
The Road Warriors and the FiberXers both look to keep themselves within striking distance behind the league-leading TNT Tropang Giga, who are boasting an 8-1 record, and the San Miguel Beermen, who are at the second spot with a 7-2 slate.
NLEX and Converge are both lurking at the third spot with identical 5-2 records as they both gun for win No. 6 with the Road Warriors taking on the skidding Meralco Bolts in the first offering at 4:30 p.m.
The FiberXers will quickly follow suit in the second game against a desperate Blackwater Bossing at 6:45 p.m.
NLEX finally nailed its first win with new import Wayne Selden Jr. after a sluggish start to their partnership, absorbing two straight losses which were also partly because of the injuries that struck the team in the past few days.
Mike Miranda, Sean Anthony and Matt Nieto are expected to remain in the sickbay, leaving the responsibility of helping Selden to the hands of Kevin Alas, Don Trollano and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.
The Road Warriors, though, needed a more polished defense after being hampered by foul trouble in NLEX’s 116-112 victory over Converge where big men Ganuelas-Rosser and Jake Pascual fouled out.
Such an honest defensive stand would be crucial in putting the clamps down on Meralco’s surging offense which is expected to lean on import KJ McDaniels and explosive scorers Aaron Black, Chris Newsome and Allein Maliksi.
Meanwhile in the second game, Converge looks to bounce back from its painful loss against NLEX especially after letting the victory slip away from its hands with a whopping 31 turnovers which practically negated the 53-point explosion of import Jamaal Franklin.
The FiberXers should find a way to not repeat the same mistakes especially against a desperate Bossing side which are now fighting for dear tournament lives.
Sitting at the cellar of the standings with 1-7 record and with a loss could spell doom to their playoff hopes, guys like Baser Amer, Jvee Casio and import Shawn Glover would certainly pounce on every window left open just to keep themselves in contention for a spot in the next round.