Asi Taulava remains ready if NLEX decides to sign him with a player’s contract.
According to Road Warriors head coach and general manager Yeng Guiao, the 48-year-old has never missed training in UP Epsilon Chi Center and is in fact in tip-top shape.
“With regards to Asi, Asi is still practicing and looks to be in good shape. He is still practicing religiously,” Guiao shared in a video posted on NLEX’s Facebook page.
After NLEX’s last game in the PBA bubble back on November 11, Taulava had said that he is leaving his fate to management.
The 6-foot-9 Fil-Tongan only played three games during the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup. He averaged 4.33 points and 2.0 rebounds per contest.
“Everything depends on management. I’m happy just being on the team whatever they ask me to do,” he said.
Guiao already has 21 players on his roster. However, the only legit big men he has now are 6-foot-9 Maurice Shaw, 6-foot-6 JR Quinahan, 6-foot-6 Michael Miranda, and 6-foot-6 Raul Soyud.
And so he remains undecided on whether to sign him up as a player.
“Although we already talked to Asi, he is saying that he is going to be there just in case magpalit kami ng isip or kailanganin namin ng isang big body. He is going to be ready,” he said.
“It’s like we are keeping him in our back pocket. If we want to look for a match-up with June Mar [Fajardo] or a [Greg] Slaughter, then he can still be an option.”
If not, Guiao disclosed that NLEX will still be Taulava’s home, but with a different role.
“We already talked to him with regards to a new role waiting for him. But he is just getting ready. Parang ayaw pa niya mag-retire. We’ll see.”
