Coach Yeng wants to avoid complication, urges Road Warriors to beat E-Painters

YENG Guiao wouldn't want to make things complicated for NLEX to march into the day for the Road Warriors when the elimination phase resumes Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum is to beat Rain or Shine.

Nothing less than that.

The Road Warriors are in a tight race for the remaining two playoffs berths amongst TnT Katropa and Meralco with the eliminations down to its penultimate playdates entering the Petron Saturday Special twinbill.

Although at 5-5, they hold a one-game advantage against the Bolts and the Katropa, tied with similar 4-6 records, Guiao believes everything will be formalized for his team should it win over the also-ran Elasto Painters in their 4:30 p.m. encounter.

We have one foot inside the door of the quarterfinals, but we still need to play Rain or Shine in our last game," said Guiao. "We might still need to win that one to assure ourselves of a slot in the quarterfinals."

NLEX gained the edge over Meralco and TnT following a huge 116-110 overtime win over Alaska a week ago in which import Aaron Fuller exploded for 42 points and 22 rebounds.

And whereas the Bolts and Katropa still have two heavyweights crossing their paths in their final elimination round game in San Miguel Beer and defending champion Barangay Ginebra, respectively, the Road Warriors will be up against an Elasto Painters team that has long been out of the running.

NLEX even got a good bonus on the eve of the match as Rain or Shine would be playing without import Terrence Watson, who had since gone back to the U.S. after his wife gave birth last week.

Still, Guiao warned the Road Warriors about being too complacent against his former team.