Nov 11, 2019

Guiao says it's about time for Road Warriors to step up for past disappointments




On top of the world and owner of the most fantastic victories in the PBA Governors' Cup, the NLEX Road Warriors refuse to get carried away by their present standing and fall into the trap of regarding themselves as the best of the lot.

"No, never, that's the worst thing you can think of at this time. We're still a team that's learning, a team that sabi ko nga, kulang kami sa experience eh ," said NLEX coach Yeng Guaio after his pacesetting chargers wiped out defending champion Magnolia's 26-point lead to steal a 86-85 triumph and clinch a twice-to-beat bonus in the quarterfinals.

He pointed out that the Road Warriors (8-1) aren't the most talented of the bunch as well but compensates for it with their big fighting heart.

"Actually, pagdating sa talent, hindi rin naman kami ang most talented team ngayon. Kiefer (Ravena) is practically a rookie dahil noong rookie year (last season) niya, hindi siya nakapaglaro, naputol; si Jericho (Cruz) tinapon lang ng TNT yan eh, si JR (Quinahan) tinapon din yata ng Northport yan.
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"Puro surplus lang mga piyesa namin dito eh,. Pero at least yung makina namin gumagana naman. Puro reject saka surplus mga yan pero yung puso nila brand new; yun ang maganda."

Even guys like Philip Paniamogan and Bong Galanza, who were already cut from the PBA, are making the most of the new lease on life given them by Guiao.

"Sila Philip Paniamogan, Bong Galanza, mga reject lang ng PBA pero nagpapakita sila; Si (Ken) Ighalo nga, nung nagtrade kami sinama lang si Ighalo sa amin, parang lollipop lang siya na sinama sa deal, libre. So tuwang tuwa ako ganito nilalaro niya. Si Mike Miranda nga, reject ng TNT yan eh. So syempre matutuwa ka bilang coach, yung mga piyesa mo surplus pero yung sasakyan mo tumatakbo nang maayos," he said.

Guaio's smooth-running machine claimed its fifth consecutive win in amazing fashion last Sunday in Antipolo, unleashing a furious fourth-quarter rally capped by Jericho Cruz's gutsy putback to complete the snatch against the stunned Hotshots.

It was reminiscent of another spectacular comeback pulled off by NLEX last month in Dubai, where the Road Warriors battled from an even bigger 28-point deficit before beating Barangay Ginebra in overtime, 113-111. Interestingly, Cruz was also responsible for the marginal basket that time, a three-pointer.
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"Parehong parang milagro," Guiao said when asked to compare the "Antipolo Miracle" to that in Dubai.

"Minsan mas masarap, mas maganda yung may tsamba ka, may swerte ka. To pull through in those two games, behind by 20-plus points, almost given up and still win the game, and do it twice, baka may tama na rin kaming ginagawa, baka hindi lang tsamba, We might be doing something right and it's also that competitive spirit, the same spirit we had in Dubai that thing we showed here. I think that's the kind of character we need going to the tougher stage of this conference."

He can't pinpoint which one's the sweeter but maintained both are truly confidence boosters.

"Hindi ko na masabi kung ano yung mas masarap na pakiramdam, pero kasi yung sa Dubai, Ginebra yung tinalo doon eh; dito naman defending champion ang tinalo so wala kang itulak kabigin sa mga ito. parehong masarap manalo.

"It's just the guys believing in each other, not giving up. It's also part of the journey of this team na palagay namin oras na, napapanahon na rin nan mag-step up kami sa disappontment in previous conferences, eh," he said.(OL)