The last time the NLEX Road Warriors saw their head coach Yeng Guiao in an in-game setting, it was back in Asia League’s Summer Super 8 last July. Since then, the Road Warriors and Guiao have been on different paths.
Guiao had been tasked to coach Gilas Pilipinas in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. Moreover, he was named as the chief tactician of the team heading into the first window of the second round of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
On the other hand, the Road Warriors and lead assistant coach Jojo Lastimosa have been the pleasant surprise of the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup. Even without Guiao, NLEX have tallied a 3-1 record, with a point differential of plus-2.75.
Lastimosa, who is also the head coach of MPBL club team Bataan Risers, admitted that it’s tough to coach two squads at the same time.
“Alam mo, it’s the case sana if I’m not coaching another team now – like if I’m just assisting to other team – but it’s hard coaching two teams,” disclosed Lastimosa.
“It’s not that I don’t have any help here in NLEX. I do have help, but at the end of the day, I’m still the one calling the shots and preparing the game plan – with the coaches, of course – the practice plan and all that,” he added.
“It’s a tough job even with only one head coaching position. But having two at the same time, it’s really difficult.”
Lastimosa has to miss the Risers’ game in General Santos City on Saturday, as Guiao requested for a day off when NLEX take on the San Miguel Beermen on Saturday. Lastimosa has no qualms over this, as it’s part of the job he entered.
And given their current run, the PBA legend is hoping they have made Guiao proud.
“If there’s one guy that should be happy with our record so far is I think coach Yeng.
“We know that we have improved so much on our defense in the last three games that we won,” he beamed.
