'Sister o hindi, patayan na kami': NLEX promises to go all-out vs. Meralco in PBA playoffs

After finishing 10th in the Philippine Cup, NLEX barged into the playoffs this conference and gave themselves a good chance of going into the semifinals of the Commissioner's Cup.

 

The Road Warriors will face Meralco, which is also owned by Manuel V. Pangilinan, on Friday for the first game in their best-of-three quarterfinal series/ 

 

But for head coach Boyet Fernandez, they have no plans of holding back against their sister team.

 

"Walang sister team sa amin, kung puwede lang patayan, papatayin namin. That's the mentality of NLEX," he said. "Sister man o hindi, patayan na kami."

 

Earlier in the eliminations, NLEX won their skirmish against the Bolts and placed themselves in the fourth seed with a higher quotient as the two teams held identical 6-5 cards.

 

Despite beating the Bolts once, Fernandez remains wary of Meralco now that Josh Davis is back in full health compared to their first game against each other.

 

"Ibang Davis ang naglaro dun nung game namin. He's coming off an injury after their game against San Miguel," he said. "It worries me a lot now that Davis is 100 percent."

 

Fernandez said that their initial goal was simply to make it to the playoffs, but now that they are in a good position he challenged his players to give their all and not let this precious chance slip by.

 

"This playoff will separate the boys from the men so if you want to be men, you have to overcome Meralco so that we'll be in the top four," he said.

 

"But if we just stay as boys, we'll just say our semifinals hopes goodbye. Sana magising kami," he added. —JST, GMA News