Ni ANN ENCARNACION
PIGILAN sina Ginebra import Justine Brownlee at guard Scottie Thompson ang plano ng NLEX Road Warriors sa kanilang nakatakdang pakikipagtipan sa Gin Kings sa 46th season ng PBA Governors’ Cup best-of-five semifinal series.
Aminado si NLEX coach Yeng Guiao, hindi magiging madali ang laban ng Road Warriors simula bukas (Miyerkoles) sa Mall of Asia Arena.
“From one hard series to another series that is probably more difficult,” sabi niya matapos ang 96-80 victory ng NLEX kontra Alaska noong Sabado.
Paliwanag ni Guiao, inasahan niya na TNT at hindi Ginebra ang makakatapat nila sa semis dahil sa twice-to-beat advantage ng Tropang Giga sa quarterfinals.
“We expected Talk ‘N Text if ever makalusot kami dito [against Alaska]. But now that it’s Ginebra, we haven’t really thought of Ginebra but we played them the first time and we played them well,” aniya sa SPIN.
Bagama’t wagi ang Road Warriors sa Gin Kings, 115-103, sa elimination round noong Marso 4, mabilis na nakapag-adjust ang huli at hindi pa natatalo simula noon dahil sa magandang nilalaro nina Thompson at Brownlee.
“Problema talaga si Scottie doon. Unang laro pa lang ng Talk ‘N Text, siya na ang key player. We will still have to find the proper match-ups and it’s not only Scottie but the resident best import nila, si Justin Brownlee, is a big factor,” giit ni Guiao.
Maliban sa dalawa, impresibo rin ang ipinakikita nina Japeth Aguilar at Christian Standhardinger, ayon sa NLEX mentor. “I think they are gaining chemistry with Japeth and Christian.
Gumaganda na ang chemistry nila. They are learning how to play together. It becomes a big problem for any team that plays them.”
Samantala, excited na si Road Warriors point guard Kevin Alas sa sagupaan nila ng Barangay Ginebra.
Maliban sa pagpasok sa Governors’ Cup semis ng kanyang team, isa pa sa nagpapasaya ngayon kay Alas ang pagkakasama niya sa Gilas Pilipinas na sasabak sa 31st Southeast Asian Games sa Hanoi, Vietnam.
“Praise the Lord for enabling us to reach the semifinals. Excited to play against Barangay Ginebra,” socmed post niya. “Also grateful to be back representing the flag.
“Never thought that I’d be back playing for the national team again especially after my back to back ACL surgeries. God is truly sovereign over all things.”
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