KJ McDaniels.
Simple as that.
NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao hardly found it difficult to reply when asked what has been the key in his team’s 3-0 start in the 2021-22 PBA Governors’ Cup.
“Ang susi sa mainit na simula ng NLEX ay si KJ McDaniels,” he said moments after their 102-100 win over TNT, Wednesday night.
McDaniels has been stellar for the Road Warriors, and was indeed a a big reason why the Road Warriors were able to escape the Tropang Giga.
The former NBA cager finished with 33 points and eight rebounds, but his biggest contribution was the save he made in the final seconds.
After losing the rock to Kelly Williams, he quickly ran down to help out Kevin Alas, who prevented the former MVP to make the go-ahead bucket.
McDaniels then secured the ball. And he threw it to Anthony Semerad, who was fouled by Mikey Williams to stop the clock with 28.4 ticks left.
“Crucial points, crucial stops,” said Guiao of the 28-year-old forward, who also filled up the stat sheet with two steals, a block, and an assist.
That was yet another fine play in the closing moments for McDaniels, who could be remembered for starring against NorthPort last week.
There, the American cager poured 11 of his 40 points in overtime as the Road Warriors averted a 14-point collapse with a 120-113 win.
He’s now upped his per-game norms to 33.3 markers, 11.3 boards, 4.3 dimes, 2.0 steals, and 1.7 blocks. And he’s about to get better, said Guiao.
“KJ is getting better as I said. He’s getting in better shape,” he said.
After beating TNT, NLEX has now taken down two perennial contenders, the other one being San Miguel in the conference opener a week ago.
But like what he had said then, Guiao insisted that his Road Warriors are simply fortunate to have faced those teams this early in the tilt.
“Matagal nag-bakasyon ‘yung TNT, tapos siyempre mayroon pang hangover ‘yan from the championship,” he said of the Philippine Cup kings.
“Swerte kami sa schedule, swerte kami sa timing. We’re able to play the top teams while they’re still not a hundred percent ready,” he added.
“That’s the luck of the draw.”
And as those teams grow as the conference goes along, the champion bench tactician hopes for the same, too, for his crew.
“Hopefully, as they get better, we’ll also get better.”
