Rappler Preview: NLEX, Cagayan Valley go for the kill

NLEX Road Warriors (1) vs (0) Air21 – JRU Heavy Bombers

When they last met… Their last meeting was around 48 hours ago when four-peat seeking NLEX literally crushed and demolished Air21 – JRU in a lopsided match right at the opening tip. The heavily-favored Road Warriors never gave the Heavy Bombers any chance for a comeback. 

 

Why this game is important… 

For NLEX: They have the best, most talented, deepest and most versatile lineup among the ten teams who participated in the fourth season of the league. They want to make history by booking their fourth straight finals stint, and eventually, their fourth crown as well in the amateur ranks. They want to prove that they are indeed the king of the PBA Developmental League.

For Air21-JRU: They are fighting for life. They are one of the new kids on the block who went on a four-game winning streak in the eliminations that paved the way for them to enter the playoffs. They want to stay alive in the series and give NLEX a bit of a scare if they force a decider game. 

 

X-Factor

For NLEX: Good ball-sharing. Well-executed plays. Talented and smart players. These are important facts that are visible when you look and observe the Road Warriors. They are a complete package. Down to their third stringers, or even fourth if they have, NLEX has college hoops superstars who can deliver at any given time. 

For Air21-JRU: Poor execution and fear ate them alive in game one. It was as if they were contented with their semifinals stint, that they are willing to give the win to the Road Warriors on a silver platter. Byron Villarias, the scoring machine who fired away 19 of the 27 points scored by JRU in the last ten minutes showed up too late. Despite the loss, his six triples in the final period may have raised a few eyebrows but one thing is for sure, he won’t have the luxury to easily do that again in game two as he will be a marked man on Coach Boyet Fernandez’s list. 

 

And the winner is… Do we even have to answer this? NLEX is the best team in the PBA D-League and unless the league changes rules with regards to “hoarding” the best talent in the amateur ranks, then the Road Warriors’ reign will be unhampered in the next few conferences or so. NLEX

 

Cagayan Valley Rising Suns (1) vs. (0) Blackwater Sports 

When they last met… With big guns Ping Exciminiano and Mark Bringas silent, the Rising Suns relied on Raymund Almazan, James Forrester and Eliud Poligrates — all of whom chipped in as Cagayan Valley sent Blackwater crashing, 91-76. 

Why this game is important…

For Cagayan Valley: They are out to make history. For a team who went 0-9 in their maiden voyage to one that will barge into the finals by stunning a higher-ranked foe, the Rising Suns are on track to authoring one of the biggest turnarounds in Philippine sports. 

For Blackwater: They were seeded coming into the semifinals series. They only lost twice in the elimination round and won eight games.  They don’t want to be knocked out of the series just like that without giving up a good fight most especially against a team who is relatively new in the league. 

 

X-Factor

For Cagayan Valley: Discipline and focus. Cagayan, in some of their elimination round games had a tendency to relax if their lead balloons to around 15-20 points but the hunger for a first-ever finals stint will drive Cagayan to play defense for 40 minutes.

For Blackwater: Survival. Pride. These are factors that the Sports should put into mind. They definitely don’t want to exit the conference right away and just like that. For a veteran coach like Coach Leo Isaac, it will be a bit of a shame to be outcoached by a newcomer. Kevin Ferrer, Allan Mangahas, Jeric Fortuna and Karim Adbul should go to work tomorrow if they want to stay alive for a rubber match. 

 

And the winner is…. A team that hasn’t lost two straight this season. Blackwater knows how to beat Cagayan and better execution and shot selection will be keys to push this series into a decider. Blackwater