Bolts face NLEX for a step closer to Commissioner’s Cup playoffs

Games on Friday
(Ynares Center-Montalban)
5:15 p.m. – Phoenix vs Blackwater
7:30 p.m. – Meralco vs NLEX

NLEX and Meralco have taken a similar route in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup so far.

Both squads got off to identical 2-0 starts then dropped their third assignments before countering with three straight wins on their way to joint second at 5-1.

And on Friday night, it’s time for the rampaging crews to go their separate ways, with the winner moving just one adrift spotless leader Rain or Shine (7-0) and taking a step closer to the playoffs.

“Meralco is always a tough team to play. They’ve got bigs, they’ve got guards that can score and they can defend also,” said NLEX coach Jong Uichico.

The 7:30 p.m. tiff at Ynares Center-Montalban serves as a reunion of sorts for the Bolts and NLEX reinforcement Cady Lalanne.

Before the conference started, the NLEX Road Warriors loaned the 6-foot-10 Mr. Lalanne to Meralco in the latter’s campaign in the East Asia Super League. Mr. Lalanne scored 18 points in the Meralco Bolts’ 79-88 loss to Ryukyu, where he helped a late run that nearly erased the Japanese club’s 20-point lead.

“They’re a good team and we have to be prepared to play them. They got great players over there,” said Mr. Lalanne.

“I played with them so I know some of the guys and I kind of feel I have an idea what they’re going to do defensively to me, too. So it’s going to be a good game. Just looking forward to playing them.”

But Mr. Lalanne is facing an import who still wasn’t around during his brief stint with the Bolts — Marvin Jones. The 7-foot Mr. Jones replaced original choice Ismael Romero and has proven himself to be a good fit for Meralco.

“He’s had a big impact on us. He fits in our culture in terms of not having just one guy dominate and he understands the game. I think the reason why some of these other guys have had big games is because of him,” said Bolts coach Luigi Trillo of Mr. Jones.

Meanwhile, Phoenix (3-3) seeks to arrest a two-game slide while Blackwater (1-5) takes a second shot at giving new coach Pat Aquino his maiden win in the 5:15 p.m. curtain raiser. — Olmin Leyba