Coach Yeng Guiao was singing lots of praises for the NLEX Road Warriors after his team defeated the Xinjiang Flying Tigers of the CBA Thursday to book a trip to the 2018 Asia League Summer Super 8 semifinals in Macau, China.
The decorated tactician was beaming with pride as he witnessed how the Road Warriors managed to demolish a high 17-point wall, 25-48, built late in the second frame to emerge victorious with an 88-78 decision.
“The boys just played with a lot of heart,” Guiao told reporters in Macau.
“And even if this is a side tournament, even if it’s a minor tournament, I felt like I have a newfound respect for the guys especially sa mga bago — Mac Tallo in particular.”
Tallo has been playing well in the Super 8. After scoring just three points in their opening day win versus Taiwan’s Formosa Dreamers, the former SWU Cobra has then become a consistent contributor on offense.
Photo from Power Sport Images
In their victory over the Flying Tigers, Tallo was all over the court, finishing with 12 points, eight assists, and six rebounds. After Thursday, the second-generation cager is averaging 9.3 points, 4.67 rebounds, and 4.3 assists.
However, it’s not just Tallo who’s been turning heads in the tourney.
The Super 8 has also seen the emergence of Kenneth Ighalo. He was the high-point man for NLEX versus Formosa with 14, and against the Flying Tigers, the former Mapua Cardinal was among their leaders with 17 markers.
After the win over Xinjiang, the third-round pick in the 2014 PBA Draft has become the second leading scorer for the Road Warriors with 11.3 points. Ighalo has also become the team’s rebounding leader with 5.3 boards.
But aside from Tallo and Ighalo, Guiao had also lauded Jansen Rios. The three-year pro out of Adamson University has been steady for the Road Warriors in the tilt with norms of 8.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists.
“It’s a revelation for guys like Mac Tallo, Jansen and Iggy,” Guiao said.
“We’ll go back to Manila with a newfound sense of confidence that against the odds, the bigger teams, more experienced teams in international play, we’re able to overcome a 16-point deficit and win by 10.”
But more than the showings of his wards, what Guiao is also delighted about is that their competence in the Super 8 speaks a lot that the PBA isn’t being left behind by other leagues such as the CBA and Korea’s KBL.
“This teams we play, ‘di naman ito pushover teams sa mga liga nila. We’re the pushover team in the PBA. That says a lot not just for our team but the brand we play in the PBA,” said Guiao, who has been coaching since 1990.
“Magandang comparison din na di tayo nahuhuli with the best teams in Asia with the CBA and KBL.”
*All stats used are based from the Summer Super 8’s website.
