Coming into the game against Barangay Ginebra, the winless NLEX Road Warriors engaged in three straight close encounters that could’ve gone their way.
So it was only natural for coach Yeng Guiao to expect his NLEX squad to fight tooth and nail once again versus Ginebra.
But what happened on Wednesday night was a complete opposite–Ginebra led by as many as 29 points after using a big third quarter run to beat NLEX, 101-92.
“I thought our last three games before tonight where we could have won–isang overtime, dalawang two or three points ang difference. I thought tonight would be something different,” Guiao said.
“We would be decent nga kung yung tatlong games namin naipanalo namin. We’re supposed to be decent.”
As NLEX dropped its seventh straight game, Guiao believes the skid is part of “God’s plan”.
“I think you have to be a little philosophical about it. May plano yung Diyos na hindi namin alam na siguro we have to go through this. Before you are rewarded you are humbled first. This is the humbling experience we need to go through,” he said.
With nothing going right for the Road Warriors, Guiao said members of the coaching staff have already raised suggestions on how to improve the team.
And that includes trades which the hapless squad has repeatedly tried to pursue with other teams.
“It’s just an exchange of views. We’re exploring options. Nagbabatuhan lang kami ng mga ideas. In a situation like this, anything goes. Our options are wide open. We have some ideas how can we improve the team,” Guiao said.
“We have made our evaluation of individual players on the system we have employed. Definitely, we have to shake it up. There’s no justification to keep the team as it is. Hindi na naman sikreto ito but we will explore trade options.
“We will explore any offer coming our way from any team. At the same time, we are open to initiating it. Dati medyo nagho-hold back kami to initiating trade transactions. But now, we have to be a little more aggressive.”
But Guiao cleared that NLEX isn’t trading its first round pick in next year’s draft.
“Sacred yung first round pick namin. Ngayon pa eh yun nga lang yung consolation mo rito. It’s sacred, we will not touch it, we will not trade it or give it up. But aside from that, anything is possible,” he said.
