Head coach Yeng Guiao was away from NLEX for nearly two months, and the Road Warriors dearly missed him.
So when he returned to PBA action on Wednesday night, they made sure to give him something to smile about.
The Road Warriors waxed hot from the field and torched Blackwater, 124-106, to end the Elite’s four-game winning streak in the 2018 Governors’ Cup at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Almost everybody fielded in contributed well, but it was Larry Fonacier who had the best game among them, as the veteran marksman shot 8-of-13 from the field on his way to 24 points.
“I guess na-miss namin si coach Yeng.
“May mga baon siya from the national team so yun, it worked for one game. We gotta be ahead of our opponents obviously,” said Fonacier of his night.
However, Fonacier doesn’t want to take all the credit for himself.
“The system of coach Yeng is really friendly for shooters. My teammates, we all played together and we aim to make each other better. Nagkataon lang na maraming opening today,” the 13-year-pro said.
According to the league’s chief statistician Fidel Mangonon, this has been Fonacier’s best outing in five years, or since he dropped 31 points in a playoff loss to the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in 2013.
So for the 36-year-old, he couldn’t be grateful enough for the people who have helped him maintain his shape.
“Just credit to the whole staff of NLEX for getting me back to shape and nursing me to full health.”
