NLEX looks to strengthen its hold on a PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinal berth on Wednesday when the conference resumes after a nearly two-month break, while TNT and Terrafirma clash in a game with major implications in Group A’s top-four race.
The Road Warriors face a depleted Macau side at 5:15 p.m. before the Tropang 5G battle the Dyip at 7:30 p.m. at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
NLEX returns with new import Deonte Burton and a 7-2 record, tied with San Miguel Beer atop Group A, as the drawn-out 50th PBA season resumes following a pause for Gilas Pilipinas’ campaigns in the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Burton replaced the injured DeQuan Jones and gives the Road Warriors a different look with his perimeter game and up-tempo style.
‘I think he’s made huge strides, and I think that’s the advantage of having him in this break,’ NLEX coach Jimmy Alapag said of Burton, who saw action in tune-up games against Magnolia, Mongolia’s Omni Erdenet Miners and Barangay Ginebra.
‘He’s been with the team for probably three weeks now, so hopefully that by playing these tuneup games, he would find his rhythm and find a way to help us,’ Alapag added.
NLEX also gets back star guard Robert Bolick after his stint with Gilas in the Asian Games.
The Road Warriors will face a Macau team missing Damian Chong Qui, Ramon Cao, Jenning Leung and import De’vondre Perry. The Giant Pandas added Oscar Lopez Jr. and Chen Li Hsing while activating Chong Pong Lao.
Macau carries a 2-6 record into the resumption of a difficult guest campaign, leaving NLEX with an opportunity to move closer to securing its place in the knockout stage.