For Juami Tiongson, not having star guards Kevin Alas and Kiefer Ravena is definitely a huge blow to the NLEX Road Warriors, especially now that they are trying to save their campaign in the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup.
After NLEX recently lost Alas due to an ACL tear, their problems were compounded, as they are also set to lose this season’s top rookie after Ravena was slapped with a harsh 18-month suspension by FIBA after testing positive to WADA-prohibited substances.
“It’s tough. It’s insurmountable of course,” rued Tiongson of Ravena’s and Alas’s absence. “Our top two guards aren’t there.
“Two of the best guards in the PBA, wala.”
The Road Warriors’ journey without the lethal backcourt duo began on Wednesday night, as they clashed with the Blackwater Elite, who are now parading import Henry Walker in lieu of original reinforcement Jarrid Famous.
And their journey started off on the right foot. NLEX crawled back from nine points down with 5:15 left to play, finishing the match with a 16-3 scoring blitz to emerge victorious, 93-89, and to collect their second win in the tilt.
“Collectively we had to step up as a team kasi yun yung hinihingi ni Coach Yeng [Guiao] from all of us,” shared the fourth-year pro of the victory, which improved their record to 2-4 while sending Blackwater to a deep 0-7 hole.
“You know Kiefer and Kevin and what they bring to the team, their individual skills, parang ‘di namin mama-match yun, kasi… Maybe we’re not as skilled as talented as them so we had to do it collectively,” he added.
The 5-foot-10 floor general was impressive in the win, finishing with 10 points and 10 assists. The four-year pro definitely stepped up, but it wasn’t a case of their head coach telling them that someone has to do it, that it should be all of them.
“Coach Yeng never said naman na, ‘O, Juami, ikaw dapat mag-step up.’ Wala. He didn’t say that. He said na as a group, as a team, we have to step up,” shared the Ateneo de Manila product, who’s now averaging 6.2 points and 4.7 dimes.
“So we as a group, as a team, have to show it and we have to do it by doing the little things collectively.”
They may have lost two budding superstars, but that doesn’t bring down Tiongson’s trust in the Road Warriors — for him, this is a challenge they can overcome as long as they keep working together, hand-in-hand.
“Sabi naman ni Coach Yeng, we can do it eh. And if your leader says you can do it, you have to do it.”
