PBA Season 42 Preview: NLEX Road Warriors
NLEX center Asi Taulava posts up TNT forward Kelly Williams. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Enough of being the third banana.
With coach Yeng Guiao in tow, NLEX hopes to finally take that huge step and be among the contenders this upcoming season.
The coaching change is the biggest offseason move for the Road Warriors, who have yet to make waves in their three years in the PBA.
This season may just change the team’s fortunes with Guiao bringing in his championship-tested system to a hungry NLEX crew.
But what the fiery mentor is preaching right now is for the team to have the patience to undergo the process.
“Installing a new system, and more importantly a new culture won’t happen overnight. Something like that takes a little bit of time, but we’ll be very patient. And we’re expecting that we will improve gradually starting this conference,” Guiao said.
Fortunately for the veteran mentor, the materials are already there with Mythical Team members Asi Taulava and Sean Anthony providing the leadership.
Kevin Alas, Garvo Lanete, veteran Jonas Villanueva, and new acquisition Carlo Lastimosa will command the backcourt, while Bradwyn Guinto, Glenn Khobuntin, and rookie Fonso Gotladera infuse youth to the team’s aging frontcourt.
So far, Guiao has expressed elation with the makeup of his squad, saying, “I think we’re getting closer. What we need in this team are upgrades and I think we already have those.”
Only time will tell if NLEX will have the same success Guiao has had in his past teams, all of which went on to win numerous championships during his tenure.
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