Yeng Guiao hints at changes after NLEX falls to 1-4

After suffering their fourth loss in five games in the ongoing 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Yeng Guiao and his staff had a long meeting inside their locker room in the SMART-Araneta Coliseum. After an hour and a half, they came up with one conclusion: there should be a shake-up.

“I guess we have to seriously think about making changes,” disclosed Guiao.

The last time Guiao hinted at changes was back in the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup. The Road Warriors had a horrible campaign during the tournament, finishing dead last with a 2-9 record.

With that, the Road Warriors made numerous transactions that netted them players like Larry Fonacier, JR Quiñahan, Kenneth Ighalo, Juami Tiongson, and Rabeh Al-Hussaini.

It quickly paid dividends, as they were able to turn things around in the next conference and, later on, it resulted in a semifinals appearance last Philippine Cup.

This time, though, the changes Guiao is talking about might be about changing imports for the second time this conference.

“I’m not saying we’re doing it a hundred percen,t but realistically you have to think about it seriously,” added Guiao.

“It’s just a pity Arnett [Moultrie] played a really great game in our last game which we won, but it wasn’t even close to those numbers this game.”

Moultrie is currently averaging 27.0 points, 14.67 rebounds, 5.33 assists, and 2.33 blocks in the three games he played. He finished with 37 points, 17 rebounds, eight assists, and four blocks during their skid-breaking win over the Phoenix Fuel Masters, but followed it up with just 19 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and a block in their 94-116 loss to the Globalport Batang Pier on Wednesday evening.

Guiao is not pinning all the blame on his reinforcement, however, saying that the locals also lacked the desire to push when Globalport was making a run during the third frame.

“I would like to also point out it’s not his fault alone, the others have to take responsibility for this loss as a team,” expressed the seven-time champion coach.

“But of course the easiest way to make an impact is to look at the import and see if that desired effect of making an impact can take effect.

“If there’s a change so that’s one thing we’re looking at the other thing is to look internally look within ourselves and see what’s happening in this conference,” he added.

The Road Warriors will have a two-week break before taking on the Blackwater Elite on May 30. If Moultrie remains with the team by then, Guiao said that they are sticking with him the rest of the way. And if he does stay, it probably means that NLEX will try trade up some pieces once again.