If Meralco and NLEX's elimination round match is any indication, it appears this quarterfinal face-off will be decided in the final play.
The PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup quarterfinals begin Friday, May 10, with third seed Meralco and sixth-ranked NLEX kicking off the action at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
The Bolts and the Road Warriors collide at 4:30 p.m. in the first of a twinbill which will also feature No. 4 TNT against fifth-seeded Rain or Shine in the 7:30 p.m. mainer.
[RELATED STORY: PBA: TNT, Rain or Shine look to draw first blood in best-of-three quarterfinal clash]
So what should fans expect in the battle between sister teams Meralco and NLEX?
No. 3 Meralco vs No. 6 NLEX
Elimination round record:
Meralco (6-5)
NLEX (6-5)
Robert Bolick (left) is expected to lead NLEX anew while Aaron Black (right) is out indefinitely for Meralco after suffering a torn ACL in the Bolts' match against Magnolia last April 28. | Photo (c) PBA
[ALSO READ: PBA: Meralco's Aaron Black sidelined with torn ACL]
After a rollercoaster conference that saw teams in a logjam in the middle of the standings, Meralco managed to squeeze into the third spot.
And with a rousing 95-92 win over previously unbeaten San Miguel to end their elimination round campaign, the Bolts are entering the post-elimination phase beaming with confidence.
Meralco's Chris Newsome tries to elude NLEX defender Enoch Valdez. | Photo (c) PBA
NLEX is riding that same crest.
With star Robert Bolick back after a one-game absence due to the birth of his son, the Road Warriors have looked like the in-form team which started the conference with a 5-1 record.
[RELATED STORY: New dad Robert Bolick gives props to wife: ‘Nakakatulog akong maigi sa gabi’]
And it was none more evident than in NLEX's thrilling 76-72 win over Ginebra which allowed the Road Warriors to elude a playoff for the No. 8 slot against NorthPort as they finished at sixth.
How Meralco and NLEX fared against each other in the elims:
As expected, Bolick happened.
NLEX clawed back from 10 points down behind Bolick, who dropped 16 of his 26 points in the fourth period to hammer out a 99-96 win over Meralco last March 6 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Robert Bolick of NLEX towers over Meralco defenders. | Photo (c) PBA
If there is anything the Bolts have learned from the match, it is that no lead is safe against a Bolick-led Road Warriors.
Meralco guns to change its fate as it meets with NLEX anew in the same Cubao venue, this time for a much bigger cause.
Players to watch:
Meralco – While the Bolts have always put premium on defense, they are not lacking in offensive threats with Allein Maliksi and Chris Newsome at the forefront. Bong Quinto has been on a slump as of late, but a player of his caliber is expected to heat up any night.
There’s newly minted Player of the Week Cliff Hodge, too, who can do pretty much everything.
[RELATED STORY: PBA: Cliff Hodge is Player of the Week after helping Meralco zap no. 1 San Miguel]
Meralco's Bong Quinto aims for the basket. | Photo (c) PBA
NLEX – The Road Warriors have turned to Bolick when the going got tough since getting him on board. But do not count out an able NLEX supporting cast, which has the likes of Tony Semerad, Jhan Nermal and Enoch Valdez.