Road Warriors seek way past unfamiliar terrain
Dealing with the end of a long winning streak is something that NLEX is in the process of figuring out.
“The important thing is that we can recover because this is something new to us,” coach Jong Uichico said after the Road Warriors were handed a 108-92 defeat by the Meralco Bolts on Sunday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
NLEX saw its six-game winning streak in the PBA Philippine Cup snapped and fell to 6-2 for joint second with San Miguel Beer. The result also denied its first crack at securing a quarterfinals berth.
They can still get that slot if they can live up to being favorites in their next game on Sunday against the Phoenix Fuel Masters, who currently have a 2-5 record, at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Afterwards, NLEX battles Magnolia on June 6 and NorthPort on June 11, both at Ninoy Aquino Stadium, games that are crucial in its potential top-four chances.
Teams that finished first to fourth will secure a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarters, which would be beneficial in NLEX’s bid to reach the semifinals for only the third time in franchise history.
“The team’s morale is still high,” Uichico said. “It would have been different if we were 2-6 instead of being 6-2.”
The Road Warriors were on a roll since dropping their opening assignment to the Beermen, with Robert Bolick leading the charge behind his scoring exploits and how he facilitates the offense.
But NLEX has been getting more production from rookies Xyrus Torres, JB Bahio and Brandon Ramirez plus unheralded forward Dominick Fajardo.
Fajardo, however, got hurt in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s affair with the Bolts which the team said was a case of Charlie Horse. Otherwise, a potential absence may leave NLEX without its unsung heroes.
The Road Warriors haven’t enjoyed this kind of winning form since the 2022 Governors’ Cup under coach Yeng Guiao, the last time the franchise made the semifinals.
NLEX was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Governors’ Cup and lost to Magnolia in a playoff for No. 8 in the Commissioner’s Cup, which is why Uichico sees this as unfamiliar territory.
