NLEX Want to Win a Chip for Asi and Cyrus: Can They Do It?

In the season-ending Governors’ Cup last season, the NLEX Road Warriors finished the elimination round with the best record in the league- arguably the franchise’s best finish in years. They could have gone all the way to the finals considering the fact that they just had Kiefer Ravena back from his 18-month FIBA sanction. However, chaos met the Road Warriors in the quarterfinals as JP Erram and Paul Vailila were involved in an on-court fight right in the first game of the quarterfinal series against the NorthPort Batang Pier in which the Road Warriors lost by 25 points. The result of the fight: Erram and Varilla were suspended for the second game. While the game went to three overtime periods, the fact that NLEX blew a 16-point lead doomed them.

Originally, one of the oldest active players in Asi Taulava, has said that he thought of retiring but after their disappointing run to close the 44^th season of the PBA,  he hints at wanting to play one more season and for that, the NLEX Road Warriors wanted to win one for the 46-year old PBA veteran and Cyrus Baguio. The question is: can the Road Warriors gift their retiring vets a championship-winning finish to their already decorated careers?

It depends on two things: health and maturity

We all know that Kevin Alas is nearing his return to the professional play after recovering from 2 consecutive ACL injuries that cause him to miss action not just in the PBA but also in the international scene with the national team. While Alas still at the age of 28 years old and still in his prime years, one way or another, those two ACL injuries will have a changing impact in Alas’ way of playing. In other words, Alas maybe healthy to play but he’ll be more careful when running back into the physicality of the PBA. Then again, who knows?

If the mixture of young guns and veterans can stay healthy, that could work for Yeng Guiao.

Maturity?

Yeng Guiao might be known as a fierce coach who would not hesitate at saying his sweet somethings to the referees if things aren’t looking the way they should be- at least from the coach’s point of view. But that doesn’t mean that his players will do the same.  Let’s just put it this way: had Erram and Varilla shown more maturity but not letting their emotions get the better of themselves in the first quarterfinal game against Christian Standharinger and company, they would have a better chance of winning the next game.

If NLEX players can continue on perfecting Yeng Guiao’s system while staying in control of their emotions, they could win a chip for their old men, Asi Taulava and Cyrus Baguio. That and if Kiefer Ravena can lead them as the Phenom people thought he is.

Photo is from GMA News