Fernandez expects 'war' between sister teams NLEX, TnT

MANILA, Philippines – NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez fired the opening salvo days before the Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup playoffs begins, declaring that the Road Warriors’ upcoming clash with sister team Talk ‘N Text is going to be a “war”.

“Ang pagkakaiba lang siguro, sa aming tatlong sister teams (with Meralco), walang sister teams sister teams because all of our bosses, may bragging rights din yan eh,” Fernandez told Philstar.com on Monday just before NLEX begins its practice.

“On my side din, ayaw ko din patalo. We always look to win every time.”

The Road Warriors, who will enter the playoffs as the seventh seed, will need to beat the twice-to-beat Tropang Texters (sixth rank) on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena to forge a winner-take-all match.

Talk ‘N Text, which dropped a 91-84 decision to Barangay Ginebra on Sunday, ranks sixth in the two-phase quarterfinals, while NLEX finished the single-round eliminations with a 5-6 card.

NLEX will be figuring in its second playoff appearance since joining the pro league last season.

Fernandez said NLEX’s 2-0 sweep at the hands of Meralco, another sister team in last season’s Commissioner’s Cup is still fresh in their memory.

“Nangyari lang sa Meralco, talo lang kami sa series na iyun,” recalled the one-time PBA champion coach.

The 44-year-old NLEX bench tactician felt without injured forward Ranidel de Ocampo, the Road Warriors have a better chance of competing against a powerhouse squad like Talk ‘N Text.

“May mga bago silang (Tropang Texters) bata (like rookies Troy Rosario and Moala Tautuaa), pero ang missing sa kanila is wala si RDO. If u look at their lineup, iba sila, so medyo may chance kami to steal the game,” he added.

NLEX hammered out a 107-101 victory over Talk ‘N Text in the team’s elimination round collision behind Sean Anthony previous PBA career-best effort of 32 points, along with 12 rebounds.

Anthony established a new personal career-high number of 37 points on Saturday in NLEX’s 111-106 triumph against Rain or Shine.