Gathering steam

Santa Rosa, Laguna —Coach Yeng Guiao got the thing he wished for as his NLEX crew departs for a tough grind in the United Arab Emirates this weekend.

The Road Warriors scooted to their third straight win in the young PBA Governors’ Cup eliminations, a 115-109 conquest of Blackwater at Santa Rosa Multipurpose Complex here, for the momentum they need going to the oil-rich territory where they play two tough teams.

“I’m glad that we’re bringing three wins before going to Dubai. It was really our objective,” Guiao told reporters minutes after the win that gave them the solo lead.

San Miguel Beer also has some momentum going. The Grand Slam-seeking Beermen cruised to their second straight win, a 109-83 thumping of Alaska in the nightcap.

Import Dez Wells had 25 points and big men June Mar Fajardo and Kelly Nabong completed double-doubles in the authoritative win as the Beermen dealt the Aces a third straight defeat.

JV Casio scored 11 points for the Aces.

“This is our best start in a long time. Guys are contributing, we’re deep with our bench,” said the fiery Guiao, who drew production from all but two of 13 men he utilized.

Olu Ashaoulu and Kiefer Ravena reprised their roles as NLEX’s 1-2 punch.

Ashaoulu accounted for 31 points while Ravena sustained his magnificent return from an 18-month international suspension by shooting 25.

The Elite, who dropped to 0-2, got the goods from rookies Ray Parks Jr., who scored 28 points, and Paul Desiderio, who added a career-best 24 in a match that saw both teams opt for the three-pointer most of the night.

The Road Warriors drilled 18-of-31 attempts from beyond the arc, while the Elite were 19-of-41. Their combined output set a new PBA record for made threes.

“I realized how important three-point shooting is one year from the Asian Games to the World Cup,” said Guiao.

“It’s an acquired skill and the harder you work, the better you get. It’s just an investment in hours and in hard work,” he added.

Ravena shared the same view, saying that the Road Warriors’ showing thus far, is the result of longer hours in the gym and dedication.

He said he hoped to be consistent with their new-found edge, one they hope to wield against the league’s best.

NLEX gets that opportunity this week when they go up against powerhouse San Miguel Beer and then crowd darling Barangay Ginebra in Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena in just a matter of hours.

“We’re done with our short-term goal. Now it’s the mid-term goal of beating the giants,” Ravena said.