Alaska, NLEX dispute last QF berth tonight
Credit to Author: JOSEF T. RAMOS, TMT| Date: Thu, 04 Apr 2019 16:16:26 +0000
Alaska and Northern Luzon Expressway (NLEX) will meet in a sudden-death game for the eighth quarterfinal slot tonight in Season 44 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The winner of the 7 p.m. knockout game will face top seed and twice-to-beat Phoenix Pulse in the quarters.
The Aces got another chance for the playoff via Magnolia’s 102-74 win over NLEX on Wednesday after both teams finished with a similar 4-7 win-loss records.
“We’re alive and breathing, still with a chance to battle and honor the game. We’re grateful to have this chance in spite of the crazy conference we have had and we look forward to bringing our best on Friday,” Alaska coach Alex Compton told The Manila Times via text message.
“A chance is all we could have hoped for and a chance is all we’ve got.”
Added Compton who will be counting on Simon Enciso, Jeron Teng and Chris Banchero, among others, to get the job done.
It is now or never for coach Yeng Guiao’s Road Warriors.
“As long as we have a chance to make it to the next round, that’s okay with me. We will keep our hopes high and we will try our best to make it to the next round,” Guiao said.
NLEX blasted Alaska, 91-70, in their last elimination round meeting on March 13. behind Bong Galanza and Jay-R Quiñahan who scored 14 points apiece.
Meanwhile, Northport finished the elimination round at No. 7 after beating No. 3 Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (100-97) also on Wednesday. But the Batang Pier need to win twice against No. 2 Rain or Shine in their quarterfinal duel in order to move to the semifinals.
Ginebra will face No. 6 Magnolia while No. 4 TNT KaTropa will battle defending champion and No. 5 San Miguel Beer in a best-of-three quarterfinal round.
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