Road Warriors solving big problems

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NLEX has every reason to be worried, what with six newcomers, two of them still injured, and its main player’s condition highly suspect by the time the PBA season kicks off on Oct. 18.

Yet coach Boyet Fernandez remains upbeat, maintaining his Road Warriors are right on track in their preparations and should be battle-ready when the time comes.

“Maganda naman the last two weeks ng practices namin at sana tuloy-tuloy na so that we’d be completely ready within the next one-and-a-half months,” said Fenandez.

Adding to Fernandez’s optimism is the fact he is able to personally supervise his team’s preparations, unlike last year when he came in well after the season has started due to his commitments with San Beda in the NCAA.

“Unlike last year, when we came in late, ngayon tutok na tutok kami sa practices. We really want to maximize the pre-season,” stated Fernandez, who has drawn up the pre-season program his team is now working on.

Chemistry remains the biggest problem for NLEX, however, as it has new players in Garvo Lanete, Jansen Rios and Glenn Khobuntin, who were acquired from the draft, and trade acquisitions Kevin Alas and Simon Enciso.

Lanete still has to fully recover from a surgery on his knee while Alas also has to practice yet due to a foot injury he sustained while playing for Talk N Text last season.

“Not yet sure pa kung 100 percent na sina Lanete and Kevin sa pag-start ng season, kasi sa ngayon hindi pa sila nakaka-join ng practice. Sumusulpot lang,” related Fernandez.

Also poised to be picked up are rookie free agent Alfred Batino, a 6-foot-4 forward from Centro Escolar and Café France, and 6-6 Raul Soyud, who played a couple of games with the Road Warriors the past season.

Also in Fernandez’s mind is a need for the two frontliners to augment backup center Rico Villanueva since main man Asi Taulava may be too worn out due to his rigorous stint with Gilas that ends only on Oct. 3.

“That’s our main concern, iyung kondisyon ni Asi dahil siguradong he will need some time off,” said Fernandez. “Knowing Asi, he most certainly would like to play agad, pero nasa amin na iyon ng staff. We have to take the long view.

“Pero siyempre siya ang pinakamalaki namin and without him it would be hard for us. Sana makakuha kami ng pang-replace muna sa kanya.”

The shortage in height would not have been too obvious if not for the fact NLEX had to give up KG Canaleta and Aldrech Ramos to bag Alas.

That is something Fernandez would not like to dwell on too much as he ticked off the areas where his team needs to improve.

“Okay pa rin naman ang defense namin pero we want to be putting more pressure on the backcourt of the other teams to create turnovers and we’re also looking at different options to protect the posts dahil baka nga maliit kami,” said Fernandez.

“I’m hoping we can master those facets of our game.” (NC)

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