Do-or-die for NLEX, Aces

NLEX and Alaska were both blown out in the openers of their best-of-three series in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Friday but the consolation is if they win today even by a point, the routs will be long forgotten.

Meralco got the jump on the Road Warriors in Game 1, 97-82. The Bolts led all the way and their biggest margin was 23 at 93-70. NLEX has now lost two in a row after winning five straight in the eliminations. Coach Boyet Fernandez’ troops are a loss away from exiting but they’re far from raising the white flag.

Despite the 15-point thrashing last Friday, all NLEX has to do is to win today and the series will go to a winner-take-all showdown on Tuesday. For NLEX to advance to the semifinals, the Road Warriors must beat Meralco twice. NLEX trounced the Bolts, 89-76, in the eliminations so it’s not as if the mission is impossible.

NLEX, however, must find an antidote to neutralize Meralco import Josh Davis’ energy off the boards. The Bolts are playing without a natural center as Reynel Hugantan, a power forward, has been shifted to No. 5 because Davis plays No. 3 or No. 4. Still, the Bolts dominated the glass, 51-34, in the series opener with a huge advance in offensive boards, 22-9, resulting in 21 second chance points to NLEX’ five. And since Meralco finished with two less turnovers, the Bolts translated more possessions into more field goal attempts, 80 to 57. Additionally, Meralco outshot NLEX from the floor, 45 percent to 37 so the statistics showed no chance for the Road Warriors to win.

Meralco’s defense on NLEX superstar Al Thornton was exceptional. The Bolts took away Thornton’s mid-range scoring and penetration. Whenever he slithered through the defense, Meralco gambled on putting him on the line instead of scoring a two-point field goal. In the end, Thornton was 0-of-7 from two-point distance and 17 of 20 from the line. He finished with 23 points on 2-of-13 field goals. His only floor conversions were from beyond the arc – which is what Meralco coach Norman Black’s defense allowed.

Davis has always been known as a frenetic offensive rebounder and proved why last Friday. He grabbed 10 offensive boards as Meralco kept Thornton and Asi Taulava from controlling the rebounds. Taulava was limited to only five points and six rebounds. Meralco’s interior defense was extra stingy and it was reflected in holding NLEX to only 18 points in the paint compared to the Bolts’ 46.

Adding to NLEX’ woes was Mark Macapagal’s unexpected 22-point explosion. Macapagal had scored a total of only four points in seven previous appearances so his eruption was totally a surprise. Macapagal even outscored Davis. Three other locals were in double figure points for Meralco – Gary David with 13 and Mike Cortez and Hugnatan with 10 apiece. For NLEX to force a rubber match on Tuesday, the Road Warriors must work double time off the boards and play more as a unit. Thornton had no assist in Game 1 – when he’s bottled up, the NBA veteran has to know when to dish off and not force his shots.

In the other game today, Alaska is in the same boat as NLEX. The Aces were crushed by Purefoods, 120-86, in their series opener last Friday. The devastation was thorough as Purefoods led by 36 and Alaska never held the driver’s seat. But like NLEX, all Alaska has to do is to win one today and the rubber match is sealed on Tuesday. Easier said than done, however.

The Hotshots were awesome on both ends, scoring 120 points and hitting 61 percent from the field while holding the Aces to 39 percent shooting. Purefoods got off to a hot 31-7 start and never looked back. Coach Tim Cone’s Hotshots controlled the boards, 51-35, had more fastbreak points, 18-11 and dished off 34 assists to punctuate the romp. Five locals scored in twin digits – James Yap with 18, Mark Barroca 14, P. J. Simon 13, Marc Pingris 11 and Joe DeVance 10. The only chink in Purefoods’ armor was lapsing into 15 errors compared to Alaska’s eight. The Hotshots lead the league in turnovers, something Alaska must exploit in Game 2.

Alaska draws its energy from Calvin Abueva but he was missing in action in Game 1, playing only 12:15 minutes off the bench. He sat out most of the contest after suffering a sprain in his foot. Abueva finished with a quiet four points and four rebounds. The Beast has to be more vocal if Alaska hopes to even up things in Game 2. The Aces also have to be more aggressive defensively in pressing in the backcourt to disrupt the flow of Purefoods’ offense.