THE NLEX Road Warriors have nothing else in mind this season but to repeat as champions of the Philippine Basketball Association Developmental League (PBA D-League).
Team Manager Ronald Dulatre said the NLEX management is leaving no stone unturned in their quest to emerge victorious in the Aspirants Cup.
“We always see to it that the team is healthy and [playing] in one direction—that is to achieve our main goal which is to win back-to-back championships,” said Dulatre. “And we really make sure they feel the full support of management that’s why they are treated very well and fairly. No one gets star treatment. It’s all for one and one for all.”
The Road Warriors swept the Cebuana Gems in the best-of-three championship series in the inaugural conference of the tournament in June.
Head coach Boyet Fernandez admitted that while the team got a couple of reinforcements, the other teams also beefed up their rosters.
But Fernandez said forming a cohesive unit in the Aspirants Cup concerns him most.
“Our team is very solid, it’s how we play that worries me,” said Fernandez, a champion coach in the PBA with Sta. Lucia Realty. “Hindi pa kasi kami nakakapag-praktis ng buo because my players still have commitment with their schools. Then the Southeast Asian Games will be on the second week of November and seven players of mine are with the national team.”
Garvo Lanete and Dave Marcelo of San Beda and Ronald Pascual, Ian Sangalang and Calvin Abueva of San Sebastian have yet to join the team in practice because their schools are playing in the National Collegiate Athletic Association finals.
Fernandez’s reinforcements are former University Athletic Association of the Philippines Most Valuable Player RR Garcia of Far Eastern University and Emman Monfort of Ateneo.
The holdovers are Woody Co, Eric Suguitan, Jaypee Belencion, Christian Reyes, Cliff Hodge, Chris Ellis, Karl Dehesa and Ford Arao, who missed the whole inaugural tournament.
The Aspirants Cup, meanwhile, resumes on Tuesday at the San Juan Gym with Blackwater facing DUB Unlimited at 2 p.m. and Big Chill taking on Cobra Energy Drink at 4.
Chan sizzles for Painters
Jeffrei Chan is proving to be one of the most consistent player for Rain or Shine, helping the Elasto Painters become a real force to contend with in the Philippine Cup.
The 27-year-old former Tamaraw has shone both on offense and defense, earning him the Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week honors for the period October 17 to 23.
“He’s been the most consistent for us,” noted Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao of the small forward who averaged 17 points, 2.5 rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block in the team’s victories over Meralco and Alaska.
“People tend to look at his offense but his defense has improved a lot from last year. He’s also gotten to be a better passer. He’s been working hard in practice. Very deserving,” added Guiao.
(With Dave Coros)
