Warriors face streaking Elite

MANILA, Philippines - NLEX tries to get back on the winning track again as it squares off with a streaking Blackwater Sports in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City today.

The Road Warriors are coming off a humiliating 52-66 setback to a resurgent Café France side last Tuesday, snapping their seven-game run in the tournament and ending an overall 24-game streak that dated back to the semis of this conference last January.

The Dioceldo Sy-owned Elite hope to pounce on the Warriors’ unexpected fall and extend their own win streak to five in six games in the 2 p.m. encounter.

“They’re not tough to beat, after all,” said Blackwater coach Leo Isaac of the Warriors, who were held to just four points by the Bakers in the fourth quarter to fuel Café France’s victory.

Boracay Rum (1-5) and winless Informatics clash at 12 noon.

Another win by the Elite will firm up their bid for an outright semifinal berth although they expect a big comeback by the defending champions.

In NLEX last four wins, Ian Sanggalang averaged 16 points and Kirk Long 10 markers. But the duo struggled for just 13 points against the Bakers.

NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez maintains that his chargers are solid offensively but need to improve on their defensive mindset.

“We are focusing ourselves to improve our defense both individually and as a team because our defense will be crucial in our campaign this season,” said Fernandez.