ARE THEY FOR REAL? — Road Warriors test mettle vs red-hot Bossing

Games today:

(Ynares Center-Montalban)

5 p.m. — NLEX vs Blackwater

7:30 p.m. — Phoenix vs TNT

NLEX is riding high from back-to-back wins against top contenders in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup.

But the question is whether the well-rested Road Warriors could sustain their hot run against a more confident Blackwater squad when league action debuts today at the Ynares Center-Montalban in Rizal.

After a shaky start, NLEX went on a rampage after downing Rain or Shine followed by a 91-74 domination of grand slam-seeking TNT Tropang 5G last 23 April.

Road Warriors head coach Jong Uichico, however, braces for a tougher challenge from the Bossing in their 5 p.m. encounter.

Compared to the Elasto Painters and Tropang 5G, whom NLEX caught on bad nights in their opening day games, Blackwater is fresh from a 120-98 crushing of NorthPort for its first win in the all-Filipino Conference.

“I’m happy with how we are playing. Consistency is the key and to keep on improving because after this one, our next opponents are not playing in their first games,” Uichico said.

The NLEX tactician’s concern is legitimate considering that the Bossing have found confidence after a 0-2 start that saw them went down by an average of 26.5 points.

Against the Batang Pier, though, a different Blackwater showed up. It blitzed NorthPort with a 40-point third quarter to pull away in the game that saw the Jeffrey Cariaso-mentored squad’s bench outclass its counterpart, 60-29, and tally a conference-best 24 assists.

“That’s really the attitude we really ought to have each and every game. You have to understand that you are needed and you’re reliable, so it’s important that you make yourself reliable and ready to play,” Cariaso said.

He expects his wards to do the same against the Road Warriors bannered by Robert Bolick, Xyrus Torres, JB Bahio and Javee Mocon.

“So, the goal is to prepare well versus NLEX which is doing well under coach Jong (Uichico). Lots of good players there, so we have to be good,” the latest member of the PBA 50 Greatest Players said.

All eyes will be on Sedrick Barefield, Christian David, RK Ilagan and Richard Escoto as the Bossing seek to start a winning run.

Meanwhile, TNT and Phoenix collide at 7:30 p.m. with both teams seeking to rebound from their respective setbacks.

Looking weary and hungover from winning the Commissioner’s Cup crown, the Tropang 5G have yet to taste victory after two outings.

On the other hand, the Fuel Masters are on shaky ground after losing their first two games before ending the slump with an upset over defending champion Meralco.

It was short-lived, however, after Phoenix suffered a 99-118 pounding at the hands of unbeaten Magnolia last Saturday in Zamboanga City.