Guiao on NLEX's 0-3 start: "Emergency situation na ito"

Larry Fonacier, who was stellar so far with NLEX, was only limited to just two points. PBA Media Bureau

By Ivan Saldajeno

QUEZON CITY--For someone who is fresh from leading his team to its first-ever PBA semifinal stint, Coach Yeng Guiao said that he is already alarmed with NLEX's 0-3 start in the PBA Commissioner's Cup.

"It is very early, but to be in a hole like 0-3, emergency situation na ito," Guiao said on Friday night following the Road Warriors' latest defeat, a 106-90 rout by the Meralco Bolts at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

[Related Story: Newsome explodes as Meralco keeps NLEX winless]

The said game ended with a confrontation between him and Chris Newsome due to the latter's late basket that the former thought is not just unnecessary but also "a disrespect."

[Related Story: Guiao finds late Newsome jumper "disrespectful"]

But Guiao thinks his team deserved the alleged disrespect.

"[With] the way we played, we probably deserved to be disrespected. Ang sama ng laro namin. We could not get any rhythm to find our offense," he further said.

NLEX only made six baskets in the first quarter out of 21 for a dismal 29 percent and finished 37-of-86 for 43 percent, worse than Meralco's 43-of-85.

"It is disappointing because we played so well in the last conference. We have been making progress steadily, and it has come to this," Guiao further rued.

Good thing for the Road Warriors, they have one full week to prepare for their next match against the Phoenix Fuel Masters at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, and for Guiao, this is a do-or-die game for them.

"If we don't pick it up in the next few games, I guess we would be looking forward to the next conference," he continued. "We have to go back and evaluate where we are going right now."

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