NLEX, playing its last game with KJ McDaniels, and Barangay Ginebra press their respective bids for a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals as they clash Friday in the PBA Governors' Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Road Warriors, running second behind the Magnolia Hotshots (8-1) with their 7-3 win-loss card, assure themselves of a Top Four spot with a win in the 6 p.m. setto.
At 5-4, the Gin Kings, meanwhile, need to sweep their last two games against the Road Warriors and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters to get a shot at the Top Four and its reward of a win-once bonus in the next round.
Curiously, both teams are coming from a stirring victory where they rallied from way, way behind.
The Road Warriors wiped out a 22-point deficit and trounced the Elasto Painters, 109-100, in overtime last Friday. Two nights later, Ginebra erased the same margin on the way to a 112-107 victory over Terrafirma.
"Pareho kaming surviving a big lead and then we'll face each other," said NLEX coach Yeng Guiao of their intriguing duel.
"Marami silang injuries, marami rin kaming injuries. Tingnan natin kung sino may natitira pa sa mga players namin. NLEX and Ginebra fans would want to see that game na babalik na doon sa dating atmosphere sa panonood ng PBA. To me that's exciting na mas maraming taong makakapanood."
The Kings are without Joe Devance and Stanley Pringle while the Road Warriors are sans Calvin Oftana, Anthony Semerad and Mike Miranda.
The Road Warriors will play with some emotion since it's their last with McDaniels, playing his farewell game to attend to his wife who is due to give birth.
"In fairness to K.J., he already told us about his situation as early as last year, saying his wife expects a baby by March. We didn't know that the tournament would be stretched until April because of the suspension of the games," said Guiao.
Set to fly in as McDaniel's replacement is Euro League veteran Cameron Clark from Oklahoma University. The 6-foot-6 player last played for Oldenburg in Bundesliga in Germany.
