NLEX is refusing to think too far ahead as the Road Warriors aim to employ a tunnel vision for now heading to their final assignment against Eastern in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

The Road Warriors seemed to have an inside track for one of the remaining two spots in the quarterfinals as long as they win against the Hong Kong-based crew in their crucial 5 p.m. duel but head coach Jong Uichico is not letting the possible scenarios get into his team’s head.

“‘Yung ibang teams naglalabanan na for placing, pero kami 'makapasok muna' ang nasa isip. We don't know kung ano mangyayari sa ibang laro. Ayaw naming umasa sa ibang teams kasi hindi mo naman mako-control ibang laro," said Uichico.

Sitting at the eighth spot with a 5-6 record, NLEX can close out the elimination with an even 6-6 record if it wins against Eastern, assuring it a chance to contend for a quarterfinals seat regardless of the outcome of the final games of Rain or Shine and Magnolia.

If it wins, the least NLEX could get is a playoff for the No. 8 spot – a scenario that would happen if both ROS and Magnolia score victories, forging a tie between the Road Warriors and the Hotshots at the eighth and ninth spots with similar 6–6 records.

A Magnolia loss would directly qualify NLEX to the playoffs, taking the eighth spot while a scenario where ROS loses and Magnolia wins to forge a three-way tie at the seventh to ninth spots would even allow the Road Warriors to go up to No. 7 with the Hotshots and the Elasto Painters figuring in a playoff for No. 8.

But again, it all boils down to the condition that NLEX should win against Eastern as a loss for NLEX could also mean the end of the road especially if Magnolia wins.

If Magnolia loses, though, the Road Warriors and the Hotshots will end up in a triple-tie with San Miguel from the eighth to 10th spots – such a scenario will see NLEX go on a do-or-die against San Miguel for the last quarters spot. 

Equally crucial to the overall playoff picture is the second game between Ginebra and Meralco at 7:30 p.m.