Warriors welcome Guiao back with win over Elite
Games Sunday (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:30 p.m. – NorthPort vs TNT KaTropa 6:45 p.m. – Magnolia vs San Miguel
The N LEX Road Warriors played a heads-up game in coach Yeng Guiao’s return from a two-month absence, marking their reunion with a 124-106 rout of the previously unbeaten Blackwater side in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.
Larry Fonacier frolicked with a personal five-yéar high of 24 points, including six three-pointers, and the whole NLEX squad sizzled with a new franchise record 20 treys as the Road Warriors notched a fourth win against two losses while dealing the Elite their first defeat in five starts in the season-ending tourney.
“It’s a big game for us because we want to stay in the fight for the Top Four, and we also want to build momentum for our next game against Ginebra,” said Guiao.
“We prepared hard for this team because we know they’re for real. The plan was to sacrifice (Henry) Walker scoring more than his average as we thought the key for them would be the locals combining with Walker on offense; four to five guys on double figures,” Guiao pointed out.
“We thought we have to pick our poison, and we decided Walker can go one on one but prevent him from setting his teammates for the trey. The defensive scheme worked,” Guiao added.
NLEX did play well defensively, and also hit a good rhythm on the offensive end, torching the Elite with a 20-of-44 three-pointers.
Magnolia made a big turnaround from a shattering loss to Phoenix Fuel the last time out, dumping Rain or Shine, 92-76, to tie Alaska Milk at fifth place at 3-1 later in the night.
“I think we got rusty from a 22-day break so we didn’t have the rhythm and the confidence in our last game. We talked things after that, and I think we got our rhythm back,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero.