Jonathon Simmons intends to leave NLEX in good position, aiming for a sweep of the team’s first four games in the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup before going back to China to rejoin his team in the Chinese Basketball Association.
The NBA caliber import already accomplished half of his goal after helping the Road Warriors pull away from NorthPort, 121-112 on Saturday, Jan. 28.
Simmons is only committed to play four games for NLEX after having an issue with his contract with his former team which reportedly offered a more lucrative deal for an extension.
“That's the deal. That's what we agreed upon,” said Simmons, who finished with 33 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
“Right now, I just worry about competing with the guys with the coach and do what we need to do and we just kinda go at it from there,” he added.
NLEX is currently 2-0 so far and is set to play TNT on Wednesday, Feb. 1, before taking on Phoenix in what could be Simmon’s last game with the team on Saturday, Feb. 4.
While Simmons was nothing short but impressive in the first two games, he also looks to get more accustomed to the style of play in the PBA even with the short stint to ensure that he gets the job done before leaving.
The NBA veteran was hampered by foul trouble throughout the game, although managed to play it through it and anchored the Road Warriors with a huge fourth-quarter assault.
“I think I became a little too agressive in the first half just trying to get up on the guys. Got cheap offensive fouls... but just calmed myself down in the second half,” said Simmons.
“We fouled a lot in this game but as you can see we were tough at the same time, so we try to intimidate them at the rim,” he added.