Upbeat Guiao, NLEX looking to pull off upsets to end elims

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Don’t count NLEX out just yet.

Despite sitting on the 11th spot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Road Warriors head coach Yeng Guiao is confident his team can still come up with a couple of upset wins to get a crack at the quarterfinals.

“It’s still a good sign for us, we’re still looking forward to produce some upsets in our last games,” said Guiao after their 120-111 loss to Alaska Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.

NLEX holds a 2-7 record and will face Magnolia, 4-4, and defending champion San Miguel, 3-4, in its final two games.

Guiao, though, is unfazed with the task at hand despite missing his star backcourt of Kiefer Ravena and Kevin Alas.

Ravena is serving an 18-month ban after testing positive for prohibited substances under the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list while Alas is recovering from an ACL injury.

“We feel we still have a good account of ourselves,” said Guiao. “Considering our situation we don’t have Kiefer, we don’t have Kevin, and I think you have to give credit to the effort the guys put in.”

“If we’re not lucky enough to make the playoffs this conference, we’ll play as hard as we can in the last two games and consider that as preparation for the next conference.”