LEAGUE leaders see action against separate opponents in the continuation of the hotly contested 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup.
Enjoying hot starts, the NLEX Road Warriors and the Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters look for their third straight victory and try to remain flawless as they take on separate foes.
The Road Warriors (2-0) are going to be tested by veteran squad Rain or Shine (1-0) in their 4:15 p.m. meeting at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to open the show.
Three hours later, the Fuel Masters (2-0) will likewise face a tough obstacle as they are set to clash with GlobalPort (0-1) at 7 p.m. in the nightcap.
NLEX is showing that it has indeed improved after a dismal showing in the season’s first two conferences.
With import Aaron Fuller providing a steady presence, the Road Warriors quickly racked up two wins to open their campaign with a bang, downing the Alaska Aces and Kia Picanto, respectively, in convincing fashion.
They took down the Picanto last Saturday, 100-93, with Fuller dropping 24 points and grabbing 19 rebounds to lead the way.
Fuller, who was brought into the country ahead of the other imports, has teamed up nicely with NLEX regulars in guards Kevin Alas, Juami Tiongson and Alex Mallari as well as big men Asi Taulava and JR Quinahan.
NLEX will now encounter an acid test in the Elasto Painters, who won their only game thus far, beating the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 98-96, last Friday in a squeaker. The Elasto Painters were led by import
Powered by the high-octane offense of returning import Eugene Phelps, Phoenix is having a jackrabbit start as well.
The Fuel Masters first knocked down Kia in its opener before escaping with a 95-93 thriller over Alaska last Saturday for their second win.
Phoenix took down the Aces in dramatic fashion as Phelps sank the game-winning layup at the buzzer to lift his team to victory.
He is once again expected to lead the Fuel Masters against Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle’s Batang Pier.