Simon Enciso. PBA IMAGES
Behind fellow fancied new recruits in NLEX, rookie Simon Enciso found a way to turn heads in his debut on Friday as the Road Warriors scored a 90-86 victory against Blackwater.
The Fil-Am playmaker wound up with 15 points, three rebounds, and three assists in 28 minutes on the floor, helping NLEX stave off a pesky Elite squad in crunch time for a 114-98 win.
Coach Boyet Fernandez did not hide his desire to nab Enciso from the start, and even though the Road Warriors weren’t able to pick him in the draft, they were still able to maneuver their way through trades to secure his services.
“We think that Simon will help us a lot with his defensive intensity. I know he’s capable of playing in the PBA, and with him, we have a formidable point guard rotation,” he said.
For Enciso, he was happy to finally have gotten that first game out of the way.
“It just feels good. I was the first guy that got here and walked out in the arena and felt blessed. It’s nerve-wracking and exciting at the same time. It’s like a big weight off of my shoulders. This is just the beginning and hopefully, I could build on that,” he said.
Now that he has introduced himself to the league, it’s up to Enciso to sustain his good start and pounce on the opportunity that was given to him.
“That’s all I can do, live the moment and enjoy. We worked so hard to get here, and this is our dream: to play in this big stage,” he said. “A lot of players don’t get that opportunity and I’m really blessed. I just try to make the most of my minutes and just stay positive, always go what coach says. I put my trust in them as I they put their trust in me.”