PHOENIX EYES TO STRETCH WINNING RUN TO 5-0
UN BEATEN Phoenix will be gunning for its fifth straight win when it battles Northern Luzon Expressway ( N LEX) at 4:30 p.m. today in Season 44 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pa say City.
The Road Warriors are jumping into the fray without Kevin Alas.
“It’s really anterior cruciate ligament ( ACL) on Kevin ( Alas). It was a freak accident. But I’m still worried about NLEX’s quick attack and its volume of shooters despite Kevin’s absence. “It’s a battle of will to win,” Phoenix head coach Louie Alas – Kevin’s father – told TheManilaTimes.
Calvin Abueva finished with 22 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and two blocks in Phoenix ’s
114- 95 win over Blackwater last week.
Matthew Wright had 19 points, seven rebounds, seven assist sand five steals also in that game.
“At 4- 0, we’re happy but we can be happier if we’ll be 5- 0,” added Alas.
NLEX ( 2- 3 win- loss record) scored back- toback vic tories also last week but Alas was injured with only a few minutes left before they beat Meralco 87- 83.
“We dedicate this game to Kevin. We are so disappointed that while we have the momentum, it happened to Kevin,” said NLEX coach Yeng Guiao, adding that Alas will undergo surgery on Saturday. “They will repeat the surgery on Kevin’s knee.”
Last March, Alas also injured his ACL that took sev - en months to heal. Unfortunately just only few weeks after his return, Alas hurt the same ACL anew.
“We’re a bit discouraged but we have to set that aside and move on. We will support Kevin but we need to accomplish something— one against Phoenix,” said Guiao, who will depend on JP Erram who posted 12 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and five blocks in their last game against Meralco.
Meanwhile, Rain or Shine wants to fortify its hold of No. 2 when it faces Northport in the 7 p. m. second game.
The Elasto Painters are gunning for their fifth victory in six matches while the Batang Pier at No. 3, shoot for its third win after four games.