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The stage is set for the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems and the NLEX Road Warriors' Foundation Cup finals rematch, this Thursday at the San Juan gym, in the penultimate day of the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup elimination round.
The Gems and Road Warriors collide in the 4 p.m. second game in their first meeting since the latter took home the title in the league's inaugural conference.
NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez expects a Finals atmosphere in the match-up as both teams occupy the top two spots in the standings.
“This game is all about pride. Obviously, Cebuana is aching to avenge their loss in last conference's Finals. On the other hand we are aiming for the top spot and to formalize our entry in the semifinals. So this game is almost like a Finals match,” Fernandez said.
The 8-1 Cebuana Lhuillier, which has already clinched an outright semifinal berth, hopes to end the elimination round on a high note by capturing their ninth win this conference.
NLEX, on the other hand, is currently a win behind them with a 7-1 record. The overall number one seed is still not out of reach, though they'll need to drop Cebuana Lhuillier and their last opponent, the Café France Bakers. A victory over the Gems but a loss to the 3-5 Bakers puts them into a playoff with Cebuana Lhuillier.
Meanwhile, Big Chill takes on the Blackwater Elite in the first match at 2 p.m., as the Superchargers aim to secure a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
The Superchargers seek to improve on their 6-3 win-loss card and tie Freego Jeans for third place in the team standings.
Blackwater got a big boost after PBA Commissioner Chito Salud forfeited the Cobra Energy Drink Iron Men's win over the Elite last Monday.
The Commissioner's Office said that Cobra mistakenly fielded Letran's Jonathan Belorio, who was on the team's inactive list. As a result, Salud gave the victory to Elite, which improved to 4-5 with the decision.
A Blackwater win against Big Chill will earn the team at least a playoff for the final quarterfinal berth and the Elite can still gain a twice-to-beat edge in the quarterfinals with a victory over RnW Pacific Pipes on January 17.
Source: AMD/JVP, GMA News
