RAIN or Shine may have thwarted NLEX’s bid to make the semifinals of the PBA Philippine Cup by twice beating the second-seeded Road Warriors in their quarterfinal match up.
But this early, Elasto Painters coach Yeng Guiao is sounding the alarm about NLEX becoming a force in the league in just a few years.
"Yung NLEX team, sa tingin ko malapit na rin yung panahon nila. Ang hirap na nilang talunin ngayon," acknowledged Guiao after RoS rallied back for a 103-92 win in its do-or-die encounter with the Road Warriors Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Seventh-seeded Rain or Shine needed to beat No. 2 NLEX twice in a row in a three-day span to clinch a semifinals berth in all three conferences of Season 49 - or fourth overall dating back to the All-Filipino conference last season.
NLEX's Robert Bolick PHOTO: Mark Cristino
In the sudden-death, the Elasto Painters had to overhaul an early 39-28 deficit and Robert Bolick’s hot shooting in the first three quarters to complete the reversal.
Now, Rain or Shine faces aspiring Grand Slam team TNT in the best-of-seven semis.
Looking back, however, Guiao sees the Road Warriors seriously contending for a championship down the road, with the way it performed this conference behind a young, free-wheeling team led by Bolick and with support coming from rookies JB Bahio, Brandon Ramirez, Jonnel Policarpio, and Xyrus Torres, along with veterans Kevin Alas, Javee Mocon, Anthony Semerad, and Dominic Fajardo.
"Yung mga bata, nandiyan na. I think they put in the proper personnel, the proper style of play, so credit to coach Jong [Uichico] and his staff, and to boss Ronald [Dulatre] for putting together a very competitive team," added Guiao.
NLEX coach Jong Uichico PHOTO: Mark Cristino
This was the best chance for NLEX to make it back to the semis after holding a twice-to-beat edge for the first time since emerging as the top seeded team during the 2019 Governors’ Cup.
But now, the Road Warriors will have to wait again to finally barge into the Final Four, which the organization last achieved in the 2022 Governors’ Cup when Guiao was still at the helm.
The champion coach though, sees big things eventually coming to his former team.
"Malapit na malapit na yung panahon nila," said Guiao.
2025-06-22T06:11:21Z