NLEX is already assured of a twice-to-beat advantage in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup. But expect the Robert Bolick and the Road Warriors to come out swinging against NorthPort.
Already locked into a twice-to-beat advantage in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup quarterfinals, Robert Bolick and the surging NLEX Road Warriors look to polish their form further when they face the skidding NorthPort Batang Pier on Wednesday, June 11.
The match starts at 5:00 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
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At 8-2, NLEX holds the best record in the league and can secure the no. 1 seed outright with a win. But for head coach Jong Uichico, playoff seeding takes a backseat to sustaining momentum and sharpness.
“The main goal is to get better every day. You still have to remain sharp despite being in the quarterfinals,” Uichico said, emphasizing the importance of consistency heading into the postseason.
The Road Warriors are coming off a confidence-boosting 107-99 win over fellow contender Magnolia, with Bolick continuing to lead a balanced and disciplined NLEX squad.
NorthPort, meanwhile, enters the matchup with a horrendous 1-8 record and has dropped its last eight games.
The Batang Pier are reeling not just from their poor form but also the loss of key players: Arvin Tolentino has moved to the Korean Basketball League, while William Navarro was dealt to Magnolia in exchange for Calvin Abueva.
For NLEX, the match presents a low-stakes opportunity to fine-tune its system and reinforce its identity before the games start to matter most.
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]