NLEX caught off guard by Taulava’s late suspension

NLEX Road Warriors. PBA IMAGES

NLEX head coach Boyet Fernandez admitted the team was caught off guard having learned about Asi Taulava’s suspension a day before its game against Barangay Ginebra.

Taulava served a one-game suspension for slapping San Miguel Beer’s David Semerad last Friday and Fernandez said the PBA’s verdict should’ve been made over the weekend, but cleared, he accepts the league’s decision even if it came on a short notice.

“It’s the decision of the PBA so we just have to abide for that. We played Wednesday so the suspension should’ve came on Saturday or Sunday since nandoon naman kami, may game naman Saturday, Sunday. But that’s the decisio so we have to abide that and sacrifice,” Fernandez told reporters following the Road Warriors’ 85-72 loss to the Kings Wednesday night.

“I’m happy also that commissioner has given Asi a chance to explain his side but eventually the suspension was there wala na tayong magagawa doon.”

Fernandez said NLEX had the size advantage against Ginebra, which is missing the services of its 7-foot center Greg Slaughter due to an injury, had Taulava been present.

But the team had to do away with its initial plan following the suspension.

“They don’t have Slaughter and they only have Brownlee so we thought we have the advantage with Asi but eventually tinanggal na namin yon kasi wala nga si Asi,” he said.

“Nawala rin post threat namin kaya medyo na-caught off guard kami pero we were in the game and it was just a matter of us grinding it out until the end of the ball game and we don’t have to be frustrated even if the game wasn’t going with us.”

Instead, it was the Kings, who pounced on the Road Warriors’ diminished frontline.

“I guess we took advantage of Asi’s absence. They couldn’t matchup with our big lineups,” Ginebra coach Tim Cone said.

Still, the Road Warriors managed to keep it close through three quarters, down by just a point heading into the last 12 minutes.

Justin Brownlee had a field day for Ginebra with 24 points on top of 15 rebounds, four assists and two blocks.