The NLEX Road Warriors are hitting their three-point shots at an incredible pace to start the PBA Governors’ Cup but coach Yeng Guiao is hoping that the trend continues ahead in Dubai for two games against a pair of perennial title contenders.
NLEX has made 53 of 104 attempts from downtown in victories over Phoenix Pulse, Meralco and Blackwater to gain the solo lead after two weeks of hostilities in the season-ending conference.
“The guys are working hard,” Guiao said after NLEX’s 115-109 win over Blackwater last Sunday at the City of Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Laguna in a game that saw both teams combine for a league record 37 threes.
“They’re working hard, putting extra time with their skill work. Tinututukan ng mga assistant coaches yan but sometimes even the hard work is not a guarantee that you’ll shoot well.
“But we’re just lucky we’re consistent with our three-point shots. That’s an incredible feat to sustain it for three games,” the former Gilas Pilipinas mentor added.
NLEX began its campaign by draining 20 threes in defeating Phoenix, 123-116, last Sept. 21 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, followed by 15 in Wednesday’s 115-109 defeat of Meralco.
Against Blackwater, NLEX overcame a slow start with Kiefer Ravena, Philip Paniamogan and Kenneth Ighalo accounting for 13 of 18 long toms to gain the solo lead in the conference.
“One of the lessons that we’ve learned all throughout the World Cup experience, the three points is really a weapon,” said Ravena, who has a 48-percent clip from beyond the arc.
“We’re hoping to use it all throughout this conference and finish as high as we can para makapasok ng playoffs. Hindi kami mag-peak kaagad. Maging consistent lang kami. Yun ang importante,” Ravena added.
NLEX’s mettle will be tested later this week when it heads to Dubai for back-to-back games against San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra at the Coca-Cola Arena.
The Beermen are unbeaten after two games, beating Phoenix and Alaska by a combined margin of 34 points, while Ginebra is smarting from a 103-101 loss to Phoenix.
“Baka pagdating ng Dubai, naubos na pala,” Guiao pondered. “Kailangan-kailangan pa naman namin yun against San Miguel, against Ginebra. We hope we’re still able to bring that kind of a game there.” (Jonas Terrado)
