NLEX head coach Frankie Lim has his sights locked on a bigger goal after guiding his team to the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals, Saturday night.
The Road Warriors beat Rain or Shine to formally clinch a spot to the next round but the veteran mentor said that he would his charges to be among the Top Four finishers by the eliminations’ end, which merits a win-once playoff incentive.
“We’re thankful we’re in the quarters. We just hope to get a spot in the Top Four,” he said after their 110-99 win at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
NLEX is currently at fourth in the standings with a 6-3 record, and that alone is quite a turnaround considering its first campaign under Lim.
The MVP Group-owned franchise failed to reach the 2022 Commissioner’s Cup quarters after bowing to the Elasto Painters in the playoff for no. 8 — against, ironically, a team being handled by its former coach Yeng Guiao.
Now, they’re bound for the playoffs’ opening round for the first time under the 62-year-old, who’s now in the second conference of his PBA return.
Lim, though, gave credit to imports Jonathon Simmons and his replacement Wayne Selden Jr. for putting the team in the position it is in right now.
“The import also has a lot to do with it. Malaki natulong sa’min ni Simms,” he said as they went 4-0 with Simmons before flying back to China to accept a more lucrative offer by the Shaanxi Loongs of the CBA.
“At the same time, Wayne is doing a hell of a job here with us,” added Lim as Selden is currently averaging 30.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 6.6 assists. “I’m just happy that things are getting together. It’s doing great things for us.”
NLEX is now down to its last two games, first against Terrafirma on March 2 and then San Miguel on March 15. And Lim hopes to win both assignments as much as possible to strengthen their bid for a Top Four finish.
“Our next game would be against Terrafirma. We have to win that game. And we’ll go up against San Miguel in our last game. I think if we get one or two, that will be good for us,” he said.
