Yeng Guiao took full responsibility for the NLEX Road Warriors’ humiliating 103-123 loss to the surging Columbian Dyip, Saturday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
The fiery mentor said that it was his fault for not priming his players enough in the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup opener, admitting that they became complacent following their semifinal feat last Philippine Cup.
“I have to take responsibility for that because parang naging complacent kami after the semifinal appearance,” said Guiao admittedly moments after the match.
“I have to take a lot of responsibility in the below-par performance in our first game… We were just too satisfied with our performance in the last conference.”
With NLEX still hungover, the Dyip turned Saturday night’s affair into their show. Five players scored in double figures, with three of their starters finishing with 20-plus points.
Import CJ Aiken had 28 points and 10 rebounds, but for Guiao, it was Dyip’s guards that made most of the damage — Reden Celda made a career-high 26 points, and Jerramy King made 23.
Rashawn McCarthy only had 13 points, but the Filipino-American combo guard was just a rebound short of his first-ever triple-double as he collected 12 assists and nine rebounds.
“We took particular attention on McCarthy and King, pero aside from those two guys, Celda also hurt us, so their guards outplayed us,” regretted the champion mentor.
“We have to accept the fact that, at least for this game, we were not able to contain yung mga guwardiya nila, partly also because I feel that we were not ready to play coming from the break.”
Probably one of the few bright spots of NLEX’s loss was the outing of Adrian Forbes. The replacement import had usual import numbers of 26 points, 17 rebounds, and five blocks.
Guiao, however, seems far from impressed with the 6-foot-10 slotman.
“He’s a great inside player, but when he steps out, I don’t think that he has the confidence to take perimeter shots,” said Guiao, as Forbes didn’t take a single trey in the 10-of-16 he shot from the field. “And yung free throw niya, I think it was 60 percent kanina, but I felt that an import has to shoot around 75 to 80 percent to prevent the other team from just fouling him.
“Alam niyo naman na may bias ako for big men who can step up and take the jumpshot, whether it’s a medium-range jumpshot or three-point shot — Even Asi [Taulava] has that skill.”
With that, Guiao and his deputies will start their assessment of Forbes, whether the Road Warriors will stick with him or find another reinforcement that will fit in to their system.
“Siguro in a day or two, we will have a consensus among the coaching staff if we will keep him or look for a replacement,” he said.
But for now, Guiao said that they may have to play with Forbes given the circumstances surrounding initial import Arnett Moultrie, who has said that he is now available after some hiccups.
“I think we have to assume that we will stay (with Forbes),” said Guiao.
“Pero kung may chance na… If we decide and if there’s a chance that we can fly in Moultrie right away, then maybe baka Friday na ang soonest, but we’ll see what happens.”
