The NLEX Road Warriors have been in much-needed need for guards. Their two stalwarts Kevin Alas and Kiefer Ravena are injured and suspended respectively and are lost for the season.
In order to fill the void left by their two lead guards, the Road Warriors tapped Mac Tallo, who was lent to NLEX by sister team TNT Katropa.
During his first game with NLEX, Tallo had 11 points, three assists, three steals, and two blocks in just 19 minutes of game time.
Outside looking in, Ravena is glad that Tallo is with his team. He sees Tallo as someone who could provide the back-court scoring NLEX badly needs.
“Having a reliable guard in our team is very important. Now, when team effort is really needed, he adds the much-needed firepower to the team,” the first overall pick in the 2017 Rookie Draft remarked about the ninth overall pick in the same class.
Ravena though has yet to talk to Tallo because his suspension does not allow him to even drop-by NLEX’s practices.
The second-generation cager though wants to tell the Cebuano cager to toughen up, especially when coach Yeng Guiao gives him his trademark “tough love lectures”.
“Haven’t really had the chance to meet the team ever since my suspension,” shared Ravena.
“But I just want to tell him that he needs to just play his game and focus on the right things to get the trust of Coach Yeng.”
And he can’t wait to play side-by-side with Tallo once his suspension is up.
“Hopefully!,” shared Ravena as he and Tallo almost became teammates back in 2011 with the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
“He just needs the exposure right now and coach Yeng is the perfect coach for him. Just work on your game and he will really give you the chance and opportunity you need.”
