NLEX opens 'drive for five' quest vs Big Chill

Games Tomorrow
(San Juan Arena)
12 p.m. --  Cebuana Lhuillier vs Boracay Rum
2 p.m. – Jumbo Plastic vs Fruitas
4 p.m. – Big Chill vs NLEX

MANILA, Philippines -- Barely two weeks after clinching the Aspirants’ Cup, the NLEX Road Warriors sets out on another campaign in quest for a fifth straight championship.

The Road Warriors open their second title defense of the PBA  D-League’s Foundation Cup tomorrow afternoon against a motivated Big Chill team seeking redemption after a disappointing campaign last conference.

Their scheduled 4 p.m encounter at The Arena in San Juan marks the first meeting between the two teams since the Road Warriors manhandled the Superchargers, 91-67, in the elimination of the Aspirants’ Cup last November.

Overall, NLEX have won its last five meetings with Big Chill dating back to the semifinals of the 2012 Aspirants’ Cup.

“Our past history with Big Chill were already part of the past and will not in any way be a factor in [tomorrow’s] game,” said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez.

Four other teams are also making their debut. Cebuana Lhuillier takes on Boracay Rum at 12 noon while newcomer Jumbo Plastic test the mettle of Fruitas in the second game at 2 o’clock.

Apparently, the team’s state of health is what worries Fernandez as the Road Warriors try to open their title defense on a winning note.

“Half of the team played with injury during our titular series with the Cagayan Rising Suns and they are still recuperating at this time. Then there are some issues that have been hounding the team the past week, I think they will be a factor,” Fernandez said.

“I still don’t know yet who will show up to play tomorrow. This game will be a tough one. But we will not give up. We will fight to the end,” he added.

The defending champions will definitely have their hands full against the Superchargers, who are out to rebound from a disappointing stint last conference despite losing some key players.

“We had frustrating performance last conference and we are aching to redeem ourselves this conference. We lost badly to NLEX last conference that is why we have prepared hard and hopefully we can give NLEX a good fight,” said Robert Sison, the Big Chill coach.

He admitted though that the Superchargers will have to play “a near perfect game to have a chance of keeping the game close and give it a strong finishing kick to have the game in your hands.”

Interestingly, Big Chill will have to do it without John Brondial, Jessie Collado, Jonathan Semira, Jam Cortes and Ryan Buenafe.

“We have lost a couple of key players from last conference but we still have the core of the team,” Sison said.

Big Chill star guard Terrence Romeo also remains a big question mark. Sison said FEU coach Nash Racela has requested Big Chill to loan the rugged guard, who plays for the Tamaraws in the UAAP, to Fruitas this conference.

Racela also happens to coach Fruitas, which has included the services of six FEU players, supposedly including Romeo, as part of their preparation for the coming UAAP season.

Sison said issue is still being discussed at this time.

Meanwhile, Racela said his new core is still a work in progress.

“We hope to improve as the season progresses. Expectation is to better our performance last conference. Hopefully we advance to the playoffs this time,” Racela said.