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NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez has again called out his team for playing sluggish in dropping the finals series opener to Blackwater.
The Elite outhustled the Road Warriors, 70-67, and Fernandez pointed out that his players lacked the energy especially in the third period when they were outscored, 14-27, by the Elite.
It was the first-ever loss in a finals series for the Road Warriors, winners of all four conferences in the developmental league whose reign is now under serious threat.
Blackwater goes for a sweep and its first league title on Tuesday at the Ynares Sports Arena.
“Ang kulang namin, we didn’t match the energy of Blackwater especially in the third quarter where they scored 27 points,” Fernandez said. “So it was really a momentum shift after that.”
NLEX boasts of probably the most talented and deepest lineup in the league, and Fernandez had in several instances pointed out the team’s lack of effort in crucial matches.
For the Road Warriors to stay alive in Game Two and remain on track for a fifth straight league title, Fernandez reiterated that they have to play with a lot of energy in Game Two.
“It was really the energy. If we want to even up the series on Tuesday, we have to match their energy. Wala naman masyadong adjustment. It really boils down to who wants it more,” Fernandez said.
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