Even if he had a solid debut for the NLEX Road Warriors on Wednesday night as far as individual stats are concerned, Olu Ashaolu is still hoping to get better and adjust to the PBA’s style of play.
Ashaolu is supposed to play in the 2018 Governors’ Cup, but due to Arnett Moultrie’s injury – plus the team’s aims of preparing for the season-ending conference – he was activated for their final game of the Commissioner’s Cup.
The Nigerian-Canadian impressed with 31 points on 50 percent shooting alongside 12 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough, as the Road Warriors lost to the quarterfinal-nearing Magnolia Hotshots by a huge margin, 89-116.
“I’ve been in Japan for the past four years. The game is called a bit differently, 48-minute game compared to 40-minute game. That’s a bit of an adjustment for me, the 48 minutes,” reflected Ashaolu after the match.
“And playing through contact,” he added. “They kinda let you play here which is more so suited for my kind of style. I had to adjust the last four years in Japan.
“Now, I can go back to playing the way I like to play: playing through contact.”
The Road Warriors’ run in the mid-season tilt ended the way they never thought it would. From a semifinal finish in the 2018 Philippine Cup, NLEX concluded the Commissioner’s Cup with a dismal 2-9 win-loss record.
But even with this, Ashaolu is confident that the team will have a better turnaround come the Governor’s Cup. And the coming break will only help NLEX even more – they will play in the Summer Super 8 in Macau this month.
‘From my perspective, first game, we got some chemistry, some good talent, I feel confident about us taking this break, this headstart heading into next conference and start building as a team,” said Ashaolu.
“I feel confident.”
