PBA CC Playoffs 2 Meralco vs 7 NLEX

Newsome's Time
(Photo credit: PBA Inquirer)

Al Thornton (43m/36/p/12r/2a) is a motherf'n beast.

He is also 6"7 and playing one-legged, which means that the NLEX Road Warriors' prolific import plays right into the hands of the Meralco Bolts' strengths-- its frontline.

Bolts Coach Norman Black will most likely take Thornton out of the equation by using equal parts of Cliff Hodge (30/10/8/2), Kelly Nabong, Brian Faundo and then some. All while banking on Chris Newsome (27/12/4/3), Jared Dillinger (24/11/4/2), Baser amer (20/8/1/2) and veteran point guard Jimmy Alapag (19/7/2/3) to provide import Arinze Onuaku (42/21/19/3) with all the help he needs on the opposite end.

Off the track

Still a G
(PBA.Inquirer.net)

Someone please nudge NLEX Road Warriors head coach Boyet Fernandez awake, as he is continuously driving the team bus aimlessly in circles.

How else can you explain the team's current PBA Commissioner's Cup 5 wins - 5 losses predicament, despite the presence of a legitimate NBA offensive talent in import Al Thornton (who is really, a one-legged scoring dynamo), revived play of 6"10 former PBA MVP Asi Taulava and the emerging Sean Anthony? The Philippine Cup was no different, and even last season: NLEX would look like a legitimate powerhouse team with the right balance of veterans and young guns one day, and look like a team that is just trying to make it through another respectable season.

No rings, just some wins to go with some losses.