Phoenix and NLEX aim to revive their playoff hopes as they battle for survival in their virtual do-or-die match on Sunday, Jan. 19, in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

In desperate need for a victory to keep themselves in the equation for the Magic 8, both the Fuel Masters and the Road Warriors are out to leave everything they got on the floor in the crucial 7:30 p.m. tussle.

Setting the table for the interesting duel is another pivotal match between Blackwater and Converge at 5 p.m., with the former also hoping to stay in the playoff hunt and the latter looking to strengthen its bid for a top 2 finish at the end of the eliminations.

NLEX and Phoenix sport identical 3-6 records at the 10th and 11th spots, and a win should certainly boost their chances of catching up San Miguel, which currently holds the eighth spot.

A loss, however, could mean that the playoff doors are slowly closing as the team would no longer hold its fate in its hands and can only hope for the other crew above it in the standings to drop their remaining games.

After a rough start, the Fuel Masters seemed to be finally finding their groove after notching two victories in their last three games. Even in its loss against Magnolia, Phoenix actually had a strong showing as it kept in step with the Hotshots before running out of steam in the final frame.

Import Donovan Smith was at the forefront of the attack, drilling in four four-pointers on his way to a 40-pointer performance – something that NLEX cannot afford to allow if it wishes to end its five-game losing slide.

Import numbers are certainly not the problem for the Road Warriors as Mike Watkins, who leads the statistical race in the Best Import derby, has been nothing short of spectacular for the team.

It is the local support that seemed to be lacking for NLEX as outside Robert Bolick, there’s no other player who could consistently provide the needed scoring punch in their last few games.

It also didn’t help that Bolick was feeling under the weather during the Road Warriors’ 87-94 loss to TNT. And if the veteran guard should not be in the pink of his health come game time against the Fuel Masters, it’s imperative for guys like Kevin Alas and Javee Mocon to step up.

Meanwhile in the first game, the FiberXers are looking to keep their hot streak of five going as they gun for one of the two spots which merits a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.

Converge, which boasts a 7-3 record, is already assured of the quarters seat with NorthPort and Eastern.