The 6-foot-10 Jeff Flowers is expected to have a tough outing against 6-foot-9 Rafi Reavis and 6-foot-6 Omanzie Rodriguez in the shaded area while Chris Clay is likely to figure in a shootout with Chris Calaguio and Bruce Dacia as the Lakers host the Knights at 5:30 p.m.
Fashioning out a 112-91 demolition of Nueva Ecija two days back in Cabanatuan City, FedEx Laguna is currently in fifth spot with a 4-5 slate, two games ahead of its closest pursuers Nueva Ecija (2-7), Davao (2-7) and Socsargen (2-9) for the last berth in the next round.
Hurdling seven of its first 10 assignments, Andok’s San Juan, on the other hand, is in a tight race for key positions with leader Negros (9-3), LBC Batangas (6-2) and Cebuana Lhuillier (8-4) in the next round where the top two teams enjoy homecourt advantage.
The Knights barely escaped with a 90-88 win over the Lakers last June 13 at the San Juan gym.
Meanwhile, LBC Batangas seeks to extend its amazing run to three when it faces Davao at 3 p.m.
The Eagles are still in the thick of the fight for the fifth and last spot in the next round. — Joey Villar