The NLEX Road Warriors just couldn’t catch a break.
The struggles of the Road Warriors continued on Friday evening, as they absorbed their third straight defeat against the Mahindra Floodbuster, 89-81, at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
NLEX’s 0-3 start is not only a discombobulating way to open their 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, but it is also coach Yeng Guiao’s worst start since the 2009 Philippine Cup back when he was still with Burger King.
Given the way things are going for the franchise, long-time Road Warrior Jansen Rios addressed what is going wrong with his team, primarily lamenting that pressure is already starting to get to them.
“Siguro kasi gusto naming manalo eh. 0-2, gusto naming manalo para mag-start yung winning attitude namin kaso wala talaga eh,” rued Rios, who backed up Wayne Chism with 15 markers of his own.
“Talo kami. Sabi sa amin, kung kailan patapos na, tsaka kami nape-presure dumepensa. Mahirap din eh.”
Aside from pressure, according to Rios, the team also suffers from over-eagerness and an agitation to start and play perfectly.
“Gusto magpakita, gusto bawat tira pasok, kaya minsan nawawala na rin eh,” said the 25-year-old guard.
“‘Pag pinasok ka, dapat ibigay ang best mo. ‘Di importante kung score ka lang ng score. Maka-contribute ka lang, ganun lang [sana dapat].”
For Rios, he strongly feels that frustration is not the only thing wafting through the NLEX’s locker room.
“Hindi lang frustration eh. Halos lahat nandoon na. Inis, galit. Kaya minsan sa practice, seryoso talaga eh. Ang galing namin sa practice, lahat ng tira pumapasok. Pero ‘di namin ma-translate sa game,” he admitted
“Siguro mental[ly weak] talaga. Kailangan may switch on.”
