The Blades bucked the Knights and a hostile crowd to fashion out an 84-81 win at the San Juan gym two months ago, then they went on to pile up victories en route to seizing the lead with a 9-2 (win-loss) slate.
And with the hometown crowd expected to fire them up and unsettle the Knights, the Blades are favored to repeat over their rivals from San Juan in their 5:30 p.m. encounter.
A victory by the visiting squad, however, will give the Knights, toting a 9-3 mark, the lead, with the idle Negros Slashers and the Cebuana Gems just half-a-game behind with identical 9-4 marks.
Just like in the first encounter, the Blades and the Knights are expected to slug it out from the start, with the team that could withstand the pressure and convert on their set-up plays at crunchtime likely to win the match.
Alex Compton, Rommel Adducul, Tony Boy Espinosa and Eddie Laure make up the core of the Blades roster although coach Nash Racela also boasts of a talented backup composed of Peter Martin, Jeff Sanders, Jonathan Serrano, Ralph Rivera and Chris Corbin.
Andok’s San Juan, on the other hand, will be led by the prolific Bruce Dacia and Chris Calaguio with support to come from Danny Capobres and the team’s twin towers -- Rafi Reavis and Omanzie Rodriguez.
Meanwhile, Nueva Ecija and Socsargen tangle at 3 p.m. in a non-bearing contest. – Joey Villar