NLEX, Globalport eye back-to-back wins
GLOBALPORT is a vastly different team now and that fact is not lost on NLEX coach Yeng Guiao.
“GlobalPort is more balanced this season than in the past,” noted Guiao. “It’s not just about (Terrence) Romeo and (Stanley) Pringle anymore. They have other weapons now in their arsenal.”
With that in mind, Guiao tries to steer his Road Warriors past the Batang Pier in their collision Friday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Each team is looking for a second straight win with GlobalPort eyeing to move up into solo third-running position and NLEX out to continue its climb up and closer to a playoff spot.
The Road Warriors are on a high, stunning heavily favored TNT Ka Tropa 110-98 last Saturday in Angeles City to snap out of a five-game slide.
“We are hoping to build momentum from our big win versus TNT,” said Guiao.
GlobalPort could turn out to be a big road block. The Batang Pier also cut short their own skid at two with
a 97-89 win over Meralco last Friday.
Romeo and Pringle continue to lead GlobalPort’s charge, but they now have more help in its new acquisitions led by KG Canaleta, JR Quinahan and Mike Cortez.
“KG and JR have blended well with their star guards. We have to stop them as a team and shoot as good as we did in our last game,” said Guiao.
NLEX’s own new acquisition in Carlo Lastimosa also seems to have fully blended with his new teammates, scattering a gamehigh 22 points against the Texters while the likes of Sean Anthony, Bradwyn Guinto and reactivated Rico Villanueva leading those who did their part well.
With Raul Soyud recovered from the hand injury that sidelined him against TNT, Guiao has an additional weapon that should help the team realize another win that would move the Road Warriors up to ninth.
Guiao maintains his team’s mind-set is on a day-to-day basis. “We just want to keep our chances alive for as long as we can,” he stated.
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