The NLEX Road Warriors is scheduled for a head-to-head game against the San Miguel Beermen (SMB) at 4 PM on November 6, 2020, live from the AUF Sports Arena and Cultural Center in Angeles City, Pampanga.
The surging Road Warriors knock over second-running Rain or Shine on Wednesday, 94-74, to stay in the hunt for PBA Philippine bubble quarterfinals.
After a slow start to the PBA bubble, NLEX has won back-to-back games, doing it against the top teams in the league. Last October 29, the Road Warriors handed league-leading TNT their first loss.
Jericho Cruz fired 12 of his 17 in the fateful fourth as the hot-shooting Road Warriors pulled away to the 20-point triumph over TNT.
NLEX rained 16 three-pointers on Rain or Shine all game while holding the E-Painters to 32 percent field goal shooting (24-of-75) and outworking them in rebounding, 52-46.
The rejuvenated Road Warriors hiked their win-loss record to 3-5 as they continue the chase for the playoffs.
“I think one big development for us is we are getting in better shape. Nung nag-umpisa kami, mahirap. We are not really in good shape. Our defense was lousy. Our last few games, we were playing good defense,” said NLEX coach Yeng Guiao.
Meanwhile, the reigning PBA Philippine Cup five-peat champBeermen wasn’t prepared with RJ Jazul’s three-point barrage that propelled Phoenix Super LPG past the Beermen, 110-103, and into the quarterfinals of the PBA bubble.
The loss, its third in eight games, cut short SMB’s four-game winning streak and slid it to fourth on a 5-3 card.
Foul-plagued Mo Tautuaa top-scored with 21 points while Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter finished with 20 apiece. Arwind Santos tallied 11 points and eight boards, and Von Pessumal was the only other SMB player in double figures with 10.
NLEX and San Miguel will push their respective bids as they clash later.