
NLEX import KJ McDaniels admitted he was motivated facing his former team TNT during their thrilling PBA Governors’ Cup match that ended with the Road Warriors getting the victory.
McDaniels had another impressive showing with 33 points, eight rebounds and two steals as the Road Warriors wound up beating the Tropang Giga, 102-100, before a crowd of 1,480 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“When you go against your former team you make it known, whatever,” McDaniels told reporters after the game. “You go out there and have fun. It’s definitely a motivation to keep playing hard and once you get a win like that against a tough team, you get some confidence.”
The former NBA player suited up for TNT in the 2019 Governors’ Cup, falling one win short of leading them to the finals after losing a five-game semis series with eventual runner-up Meralco.
TNT had a chance to bring back McDaniels this conference, but opted to tap McKenzie Moore, who was his teammate during the 2019 East Asia Super League Terrific 12 in Macau.
That allowed the Road Warriors to swoop up the former Houston Rocket and it is already paying dividends with a 3-0 start.
It was the second time NLEX beat a big fish to begin the tournament, the other being its victory over San Miguel Beer in the opener last week.
McDaniels, however, said that there’s still room for improvement.
“We’re not cocky or anything about it,” said McDaniels. “There were still a lot of mistakes that could’ve cost us the game. Next game we have to be better.”