RAIN or Shine tries to extend its win streak to three while Phoenix hopes to keep its unbeaten run going as the top 2 teams face separate opponents in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The second-running Elasto Painters (4-1 won-lost) tackle third-placer NorthPort Batang Pier (2-1) in the main game at 7 p.m.
The league-leading Fuel Masters (4-0), on the other hand, hope to remain unblemished when they battle a hot-rolling NLEX Road Warriors (2-3) at 4:30 p.m.
Using a balanced attack against the undermanned Aces last Sunday, Rain or Shine easily disposed Alaska, 85-72, with all but one of the Elasto Painters scoring in the game.
Rey Nambatac had a team-high 12 points, while Beau Belga added 11 points, six rebounds and five assists to lead the Elasto Painters.
Alaska had to endure the absence of star guard Simon Enciso, forward Vic Manuel, Jvee Casio and Kevin Racal with Jeron Teng carrying the injury-plagued team with his 15 points.
Despite the early edge in the All-Filipino conference, Rain or Shine Head Coach Caloy Garcia reminded his wards that it’s still a long way to go.
“It’s still a long conference. There’s no easy games. All games are tough,” Garcia said.
Phoenix? The Fuel Masters will try to defend the top spot against a challenging team in NorthPort.
The Fuel Masters, behind the wits of Calvin Abueva and Matthew Wright, downed the Blackwater Elite, 114-95, last week.
Abueva had 22 points and 14 rebounds off the bench, while Wright tallied 19 points and seven rebounds as Phoenix remained perfect in four games.
Coach Louie Alas said the four-game roll is nothing if they cannot maintain their form in the second stretch of the tournament.
“Looking for our fifth win, hopefully, against NLEX. But at 4-0, it’s not how you start, it’s how you sustain it,” Alas said.