Even if the NLEX Road Warriors’ 2017-18 Philippine Cup stint ended in the semifinals’ Game Six Tuesday evening, head coach Yeng Guiao did not express disappointment, but rather stuck on the positives of this run of theirs.
“I think we have improved a lot. Ang laki ng in-improve ng team,” said Guiao after their 89-96 loss.
“Malungkot na talo, pero hanggang huli naman lumaban.”
Nobody thought that, at the start of the conference, the Road Warriors would make it as far as the semifinals — they even lost four straight games in the middle of the eliminations that made their playoff chances bleaker.
Many have been crediting Guiao for the turnaround he has caused the youngest Manny V. Pangilinan-owned franchise. But for the fiery mentor, whatever they have achieved in the season-opening conference is just a result of pieces falling into place.
“Last conference pa lang, nakikita ko na si Kevin [Alas] gumagaling na, tapos na-anticipate na namin na makukuha namin si Kiefer [Ravena] sa draft, tapos biglang bumagsak sa lap namin si Mike Miranda na wala namang pumapansin,” the seven-time champion reflected.
“[They’re the] key players that got us here. And then yung leadership ng mga veterans – Larry [Fonacier], Asi [Taulava], Cyrus [Baguio], even si Alex Mallari, nag-combine yung mga bata at yung mga veterans. Ang gandang combination.
“Ngayon, kung may kinalaman ako dun, baka siguro nakatulong ako ng konti dun. But sometimes, the pieces just fall into the proper places. Hindi pa siya nag-fall exactly the way we want it now, pero malapit na,” shared Guiao.
The Road Warriors have definitely overachieved in this year’s All-Filipino cagefest. But now that they have tasted how it’s like to be in such a position, Guiao and his wards’ goal now is to be a consistent contender.
“Parang ngayon kasi, ‘pag hindi ka pumasok ng semis, parang tumataas yung dosage mo. You know you made the semis, now anything less than the semis, parang hindi ka satisfied,” said the 60-year-old tactician. “So naramdaman mo na ano yung feeling, alam mo rin what it takes to win it, so you feel you have a better chance, your confidence is higher, so susubukan namin ulit na makarating dito, at baka sakaling swertehin pa.
“Nakaka-adik yun.”
