How far down the road will NLEX go?
Three straight wins by any team should be enough cause to feel buoyant and hopeful.
The NLEX Road Warriors are in that joyful ride right now, their third win coming from a pulsating 122-114 double overtime triumph against Rain or Shine.
NLEX’s previous wins came against Alaska and Kia Picanto.
Coach Yeng Guiao now has the necessary weapons to go deep into this conference though the real tests will be against the tougher teams like San Miguel, Ginebra and TNT Katropa. But unlike before, Guiao seems to have the men of steel he likes, those who are unafraid to take big shots, dive for loose balls and fight for precious rebounds.
The acquisition of Larry Fonacier and JR Quiñahan has toughened the Road Warriors’ frontline that already had Asi Taulava and Rabeh Al-Hussaini.
Fonacier and Quiñahan are bigs that can shoot from the outside, a critical element in the Guiao system.
Keep in mind that in Guiao’s previous productive stint with Rain or Shine, he got frontliners Beau Belga, Jewel Ponferada and Raymond Almazan to shoot long distance whenever they were open.
The guard rotation also has the speed and hustle that Guiao wants for transition offense.
Kevin Alas has been playing heads up of late, capping a PBA Player of the Week accolade with a 24-point performance against the Elasto Painters.
It also helps that NLEX has a hardworking import in Aaron Fuller who is not afraid to mix it up with the bigger imports or opponents in the shaded area.
The Road Warriors have made the league notice that they are no longer going to simply fold up like before. Their recent wins have given them the toughness and confidence to believe that they can go into the playoffs and give the brighter lights some headaches.
You can’t play for Guiao if you aren’t of stern stuff and the Road Warriors know that down the road, they will need their coach’s demand for guts and smart basketball.
