Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
NLEX coach Yeng Guiao refused to surrender despite another loss for the Road Warriors, this time a 110-96 defeat to GlobalPort on Friday.
“We are not giving up on our chances. Whatever possibilities there are in the last three games – I think if you lose one of them, probably out of this conference already, but if we can win three games, we will take it all the way and see what our chances are when that happens,” he said.
After making headway last week with a 110-98 win over TNT, Road Warriors came crashing back to the cellar with a 2-6 card.
What makes the loss to the Batang Pier most frustrating was NLEX had already showed it can keep up with other teams after its win last Saturday in Angeles City in Pampanga.
“We were hoping that from a good win, we can carry it through in this game, but we were just disappointed,” said the tough-talking mentor. “We felt we were moving well in practice. But that’s basketball, you don’t know what will happen and what’s in store for you on gameday itself. As I keep saying, we are a three-month old team and we have to learn a lot of things. And we are still in the process of learning.”
Guiao also admitted that the enormity of the expectations he has put on his players could be affecting their performance.
“I think one of the problems also is I might be exerting too much pressure on my players, but I told them there’s no escaping that. I told them that if you can’t handle the pressure, you will fall by the wayside or you will improve as a player and build your character. Now, after our last three games, you’ll see who’ll fall by the wayside and who will get better,” he said.
But despite that, Guiao doesn’t plan on softening up on his players knowing that this treatment would only toughen up the squad in the long run.
“I’m not going to let up on the pressure. I want my players to mature the way we have our players mature in my style. We don’t treat anybody like a baby and we don’t babysit anybody. You’re just going to have to decide on your own or come out on your own, and develop that toughness or fall by the wayside,” he said.
NLEX faces Phoenix on Wednesday at Cuneta Astrodome.