Coach Yeng Guiao believes NLEX is capable of making the semifinals of the PBA Governors’ Cup with the addition of import KJ McDaniels and recent acquisitions Marion Magat and Kris Rosales.
The Road Warriors will parade McDaniels for the season-ending conference while also making some moves following their quarterfinal exit in the Philippine Cup by getting back Magat from the Blackwater Bossing while signing Rosales from free agency.
But Guiao said in the program The Game that aired on One Sports Tuesday, Nov. 30 that health will also be a factor for NLEX in the coming tournament.
“We feel na konti na lang makakarating na kami ng semifinals with KJ’s presence, with the new guys and the rest of the guys trying to be healthy,” Guiao said.
“As long as we’re all healthy, as long as we have the players who can complement each other, I think we can get to the semifinals. We will try to get into the semifinals,” he added.
NLEX is banking on McDaniels to produce the same performance he showed in his first PBA stint with TNT back in the 2019 Governors’ Cup.
Magat was acquired in exchange for guard Mike Ayonayon and big man Will McAloney, returning to the team he played for most of the 2018 season while Rosales was signed after failing to get an extension from Rain or Shine earlier in the year.
NLEX will play its first full conference without Kiefer Ravena, who left midway in the Philippine Cup due to his Japan stint.
But the Road Warriors saw a bit of progress late in the first conference, with Calvin Oftana showing some promise with a couple of high-scoring games.