After winning their first two games to the start the PBA Philippine Cup, the NLEX Road Warriors will take a three-day break beginning today.
That’s because the team, according to coach Yeng Guiao, needs a breather before taking the league’s top guns.
“We know that the strong teams are still coming up,” said Guiao yesterday after conducting his last practice session at the FCL gym in Xavier Ville Subdivision in Quezon City.
NLEX beat Kia Picanto (119-115) last Dec. 20 at The Arena in San Juan before outlasting GlobalPort (115-104) on Christmas Day at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
The next three opponents of the Road Warriors are Phoenix Fuel on Jan. 7 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Magnolia Star on Jan. 14 at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City and defending champion San Miguel Beer on Jan. 19 at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
Guiao said the wins against Kia and Globalport helped them boost their confidence as they prepare for their next four assignments, which he feels will test their worthiness whether they are indeed title contenders.
“It’s good that while we prepare for those teams, we’re able to play teams that are not really weak, but will be enough to prepare us for the strong teams. Mas maganda iyun kesa mabigat na teams agad ang nakalaban namin… baka nabigla kami,” said Guaio.
“Gradual naman iyung level (of opponents), we played Kia and they gave us a hard time… then GlobalPort minus Terrence Romeo. Next is Phoenix, which is strong this year. Tumataas iyung kalidad ng teams.”
“Pagdating namin sa Magnolia, San Miguel and Rain or Shine, medyo nabatak na kami. Ito iyung mga panahon para mag-batak kami,” added Guiao, whose team’s last opponent for January 2018 is his former team Rain or Shine on the 26th back at the Big Dome.
