NLEX lineup shakeup likely after 1-4 start, says Yeng Guiao

MANILA, Philippines – Change could be coming for NLEX. 

And it just might happen soon as NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao said they are mulling to “shake it up” as the Road Warriors try to turn around a floundering PBA campaign.

“I guess we have to seriously think about making changes. I’m not saying we’re doing it a hundred percent, but realistically, you have to think about it seriously,” said Guiao after the Road Warriors dropped 4 of their first 5 games. 

That change, though, won’t just be all about finding a new import. 

“Changes could mean changes in the lineup and I’m not saying it’s just the import we’re looking at, there could be some changes in the local lineup also so when things like this happen, you have to shake it up a little bit and continue going through the process.”

After losing their first 3 outings, things seemed a little less gloomy for the Road Warriors as they notched their first win of the Commissioner’s Cup at the expense of the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 120-115, last May 11. 

In that win, import Arnett Moultrie delivered eye-popping numbers of 37 points, 17 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 blocks. 

But it took less than a week for NLEX to return to its losing ways after it absorbed a 22-point beating from the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 94-116, on Wednesday, May 16. 

Following an outstanding performance, Arnett was limited to 19 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists against the Batang Pier and Guiao looked for reasons behind the import’s sudden dip in numbers. 

“Why from the last game to this game, bakit ganoon? Biglang parang na-low bat, na-low energy,” said the firebrand tactician. 

(Coming off a big performance in the last game, why did he play like this in this game? It’s like he ran low on battery, like he ran low on energy.)

“I think Arnett’s very talented. I think he has the right skills set as I said to play for us and with us in our system. But he has to have the desire within himself, he has to have the heart to really commit himself to this team or to our team.” 

But the 59-year-old coach refused to pin the blame on Moultrie alone, noting that their piling losses are the team’s responsibility as a whole.

“We’re not playing with the kind of desire and passion and aggressiveness and just ‘yung (the) purpose, I don’t see it with this team. So far we have to bring that back, playing with a purpose and keep working hard in the practices,” said Guiao. 

With NLEX enjoying a two-week break due to the league’s All-Star Week, Guiao said they need to decide if Moultrie stays. 

“If the decision is to retain him, then I guess we’ll have to retain him for the rest of the conference. If the decision is to change him, I guess we’ll have to change him these next few days.”

The Road Warriors have a chance to break out of their slump when they face the winless Blackwater Elite on May 30 at the Araneta Coliseum. – Rappler.com