NLEX is out to firm its grip at the top spot when it battles a resurging Converge team in the main game of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup on Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila.
The Road Warriors seized a share of the lead after beating the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters last Wednesday behind JB Bahio’s game-winning basket.
They enter their 7:30 p.m. game against the FiberXers (4-6) tied with the Elasto Painters at 8-2 for the top spot in the team standings.
Converge, on the other hand, won its last two games to revive its playoffs hopes.
Comebacking import Donovan Smith marked his return in the league with 32 points, along with 12 rebounds and three blocks as Converge ran roughshod over Phoenix, 130-103, which at that time played without injured import James Dickey.
Smith previously played for Phoenix but has come in to replace Kylor Kelly.
NLEX has been playing solid basketball all conference long behind import Cady Lalanne, Robert Bolick, JB Bahio and Schonny Winston.
The Road Warriors intend to demonstrate the same energy against the FiberXers, who are not lacing in talent led by Smith, big men Justin Araña and Justine Baltazar, rookie Juan Gomez de Liano and Alec Stockton.
In today's other game, Terrafirma hopes to arrest its six-game losing skid since opening the conference with three straight wins when it faces also-ran Macau at 5:10 p.m.
Import Ali Mubashar has curiously been quiet on offense since averaging 33 points in the Dyip’s 3-0 start.
The last six games saw the seven-foot import average just over 18 points per contest.
The 29-year-old Terrafirma reinforcement will have to awaken offensively if the team hopes to not just arrest the skid but also resuscitate its sagging playoffs hopes.
Macau has won two of its last three games, and will try to play the role of a spoiler since at 2-8, the foreign squad is already out of the playoffs race.
