Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Kyles Lao surprised with minutes given by NLEX in debut


Kyles Lao finally had the chance to strut his stuff for the NLEX Road Warriors, Friday evening.

The Road Warriors’ 29th overall pick in the 2018 Draft finally got the chance to suit up for his team for the first time this season, when NLEX took on the league-leading Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Lao then made a good account of himself, maximizing the 16 minutes he graced the hardwood. He produced eight points, six assists, and a rebound, while coming off the bench for an NLEX team reeling from the loss of Kevin Alas.

“I played well, yes. Masaya naman ako sa performance. Nagulat ako; ang tagal ko nang hindi nakakakuha ng ganitong minutesm maski nung college ako.

“I’m happy with that. I’m super thankful to coach Yeng [Guiao],” expressed the 23-year-old product of UP.

His debut didn’t have an ideal end, however. The Road Warriors bowed to the Fuel Masters, 82-83, no thanks to a clutch block by Calvin Abueva on Bong Galanza’s potential game-winning three-pointer in the dying seconds.

“Siyempre, I would’ve loved it if yung debut game ko ended up with a win, kaso yun nga,” lamented Lao, a 6-foot guard. “Basketball’s a team game naman.

Although we play as individuals, the end result… It’s always going to be team first.”

With his first game in the books, the former UAAP Rookie of the Year now looks to improve further so he can help the Road Warriors, who have dropped to ninth place with a 2-4 record.

“At the end of the day, it’s constant improvement naman. It’s not the end na isang magandang laro lang. Sana magtuloy-tuloy.”

One of the things he will work on is adjusting to the league’s style of play, since he admitted had taken its toll on him versus the lengthy Fuel Masters, who still sit atop the rankings with a clean 5-0 slate.

“Kaya naman eh kaso yung endurance, kung tatagal ka ba. I mean, nung una kaya ko pa, pero as the game went by, yung bungguan, yung physicality… It takes a toll on you. Marami pang bigas na kakainin.”

#ReadMore  San Miguel makes it rain on NLEX in CDO beatdown
Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

Another edition of the Manila Clasico will take place on Christmas Day as the PBA on Monday unveiled the full 2024-25 Commissioner’s Cup schedule....

Basketball

NLEX has signed NBA veteran Ed Davis as the team’s import for the upcoming 2024-25 PBA Commissioner’s Cup. Standing at 6-foot-9 and bringing over...

Basketball

TNT took a major step in its PBA Governors’ Cup title defense bid by reaching the Season 49 semifinals after finishing off NLEX, 125-96,...

Basketball

ANTIPOLO — TNT made sure that nothing would be decided in the final seconds as it dealt NLEX a 109-91 romping to move one...

Basketball

NLEX escaped TNT in a crazy endgame by way of a 93-90 decision to tie their PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup best-of-5 quarterfinal series...

Basketball

TNT came from behind to beat NLEX, 107-102, and take the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup quarterfinal opener, Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium....

Basketball

NLEX outlasted a dejected Barangay Ginebra in overtime through a 103-99 decision to secure the last quarterfinal ticket in Group B of the PBA...

Basketball

NLEX finally laid its agonizing four-game losing skid to rest by crushing the also-ran Phoenix, 104-79, to keep its quarterfinal chances alive in the...

Advertisement