By REYNALD MAGALLON
NLEX head coach Jong Uichico commended the resilience of his team that allowed them to overcome a four-game losing streak in the eliminations and still make it to the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup playoffs.
The veteran coach said that it would be easy for them to just point fingers and blame each other during the time when their campaign was going downward spiral, but instead the Road Warriors stuck together and took the losses in stride.
It eventually paid off as they ended the eliminations on a two-game winning run, enough to catch the last bus to the playoffs by clinching the fourth spot in Group B.
“What’s good about this team is even if we start losing games we don’t start bickering or blaming each other. Just sticking together as a team and working the same way as if we didn’t have the losing streak,” said Uichico following NLEX playoff-clinching 103-99 overtime win over Barangay Ginebra on Sunday, Sept. 22.
“That’s a positive culture of the team that we are trying to imbibe. When you are losing everybody is talking behind your back but no, we say it upfront, we’re not doing well so we try to improve everyday,” he added.
NLEX, at the early part of the conference, was actually one of the top teams in Group B after a 3-1 start to the conference with then import Myke Henry. The team, however, went on a losing skid and needed a change of import in DeQuan Jones just to recover in time to sneak into the playoffs.
Jones proved to be a prolific addition for NLEX, evident in his 44-point explosion against the Kings – 36 of which he unloaded in the second half and the extra period.
It also added Javee Mocon through a trade with Phoenix and signed rookie Cyrus Torres, who both played in the crucial moments of the game.
“Myke is a great player and he gave what he could give. It was just a coach’s decision that we needed a different type of player that can play what DJ is giving us,” said Uichico on the change of import.
“I made the decision that maybe we can get a four man because we have ample three men and the four position is on the not good side, if you may say, and Dequan fills that spot,” he added.
NLEX’s mettle and resilience, though, will surely be tested in the quarterfinals where it will face Group A top seed and defending champion TNT. Jones will be up against reigning Governors’ Cup best import Rondae Hollis Jefferson.
