Uncertainty surrounded NLEX hours before it tipped off against Alaska, with the Road Warriors’ playoff positioning still in shambles and one of its point guards getting sidelined due to fever.
Garvo Lanete, who shares the one position with Kevin Alas, Emman Monfort, and Jonas Villanueva, was not in the Road Warriors’ 100-85 loss to the Aces and the absence was immediately felt.
“I know he goes out there and spaces the floor tremendously for us, just that threat of him and three flicks of the wrist and we can have nine points that quick,” said import Henry Walker Friday at Mall of Asia Arena. “Just that threat of having him out there makes defenses to play honest.”
Lanete averages 8.67 points per game for NLEX and an impressive 52.8 percent shooting from deep.
Walker admitted the team lost a vital kickout option in the perimeter once defenses collapse on him.
“Today, there was a lot of doubles, triples, trying to get the ball out of my hands, so we missed that guy out there,” said Walker. “He likes to take big shots and he’s fun to play with.”
Lanete’s head coach Boyet Fernandez remained positive that his streaky shooter will recover before the playoffs start.
“Okay namn yung kanyang lab results from yesterday so we’re just waiting for him na bumaba yung kanyang lagnat,” said Fernandez whose team holds a 5-6 record. “Mag settle down for two days tapos pa-check ulit namin yung blood kung okay.”
“As of now, there’s a good chance na okay yung recovery ni Garvo.”