NLEX faces the biggest roadblock in its bid to stay in contention for a playoff spot when it tangles against Barangay Ginebra on the road in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Centrum for Recreation in Legazpi City, Albay on Saturday, Jan 13.

Tip-off of the clash is at 6:15 p.m. with the Road Warriors hoping to end the eliminations with a win that not only would hike their record to 5-6 but would also assure them of at least a playoff game for the eighth spot.

NLEX is currently tied with TNT at the eighth to ninth spots with similar 4-6 records and with one game left in their schedule. The Tropang Giga are set to play the Phoenix Fuel Masters in the final day of eliminations on Sunday, Jan 14 at the PhilSports Arena.

That being said, a win for NLEX and a lose for TNT would have the former formally clinching a spot in the playoffs. A loss for the Road Warriors, however, would put them on the brink of elimination as their fate would heavily depend on whether the Tropang Giga win or drop their game against the Fuel Masters.

Either way, Robert Bolick and the rest of NLEX are hell bent in doing everything in their power to control what they can control right now – and that is to pull the rug from under the mighty Ginebra.

Head coach Frankie Lim is expected to lean on his new import Deandre Williams-Baldwin who will be testing his mettle against the already tried-and-tested Ginebra import Tony Bishop.

Of course, guys like Scottie Thompson, Maverick Ahanmisi and Christian Standhardinger are also poised to lead the attack for the defending champions especially that at stake in the contest is an outright spot in the Top 4 and the coveted twice-to-beat advantage.

Ginebra also couldn’t afford to lose either as it will fall to a twice-to-win disadvantage following Meralco's win against Terrafirma. the Kings are in a 7-3 record behind San Miguel and Meralco's 8-3 slate. Should Ginebra force a tie though, quotient would have the defending champions taking a spot in the top 4 while knocking Meralco to the fifth seed.