After two frustrating losses, NLEX desperate for a victory
Both losing by a whisker the last time out, Meralco and NLEX now ache to be more consistent and play a notch higher as they square off in
the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum
tonight.
Playing a second game in three nights, the Bolts succumbed against the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 85-86, a week ago at the Big Dome.
On Wednesday over at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo, the Road Warriors lost their final possession and dropped a 97-98 heartbreaker against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
And the Road Warriors take their turn to play a second game in 50 hours as they tangle with the Bolts at 7 p.m.
With a short preparation with his teammates, Arnett Moultrie had a decent debut with the Road Warriors as they engaged Reggie Johnson and the ROS Elasto Painters in a grind-out battle.
A former US national youth and former Philadelphia Sixer, Moultrie faces another tough test against fellow three-year NBA veteran Arinze Onuaku.
The Bolts got to a winning start with Onuaku in this conference as they clobbered the Columbian Dyip squad, 116-103, before getting tripped by the Batang Pier.
They have high hopes in this tourney with their reacquisition of the import that helped them to a Final Four stint in 2016.
Meralco coach Norman Black, however, insists they have a lot to work on.
Meanwhile, the Road Warriors were beset by lack of preparation with import in each of their first two games - first with Adrian Forbes against Columbian Dyip then with Moultrie versus Rain or Shine.
And NLEX coach Yeng Guiao rued some calls that didn't went their way in their last outing.
PBA.com