Tony Mitchell relieved as NLEX keeps playoff hopes alive with breakthrough win

MANILA, Philippines—Much of Tony Mitchell’s stay with NLEX in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup has been nothing short of miserable.

Mitchell’s first four games with the Road Warriors all ended in disappointment as the team dropped to 0-6 in the season-ending conference.

Things, however, are starting to look up for NLEX after it turned back Meralco, 100-91, for its first win and Mitchell couldn’t be any more relieved.

READ: NLEX posts first win, trips Meralco

“I can’t even put into words pretty much,” said Mitchell Wednesday. “I feel like it was a team effort, Jericho [Cruz] helps so much. With coach Yeng [Guiao] back it was good to just get that first win and change the momentum, change the morale of our team, and just be positive.”

“We’ll take this win and keep going forward, keep building.”

The Road Warriors, who were already without the backcourt duo of the suspended Kiefer Ravena and injured Kevin Alas, were on a tough conundrum even before the conference started

READ: NLEX signs up import Curtis Washington as Tony Mitchell fails to report for duty

Mitchell couldn’t make it in time for the start, leaving NLEX to tap Curtis Washington as a quick replacement.

While he found his way back, winning didn’t come easy with Guiao also leaving a team to go on a European tour his family organized following his loss in the 2019 midterm elections.

But the win over the Bolts kept the Road Warriors alive for a playoff hunt. They need to sweep their remaining four games and improve upon their 1-6 record.

“All these guys have good spirits, nobody wants to lose,” said Mitchell who had 32 points and 20 rebounds. “I don’t necessarily know how the standings work but damn yeah we want to try to make it to the playoffs.”

“If it comes down to it and we keep winning games, of course we want to make it. We just got to keep going day by day at this point.”