NLEX won’t have its fiery mentor and two of its young, explosive backcourt players, but at least will have two of its veterans back in the roster when the Road Warriors kick off their PBA Governors' Cup campaign Friday against TnT Katropa.
Larry Fonacier and Alex Mallari return to active duty against the Katropa in their 7 p.m. encounter at the Ynares Center in Antipolo as the two are finally free of injury.
Fonacier missed half of the mid-season Commissioner’s Cup after suffering a bruised rib and collapsed lung following a mid-air collision with Barangay Ginebra’s Jervy Cruz in the two team’s out-of-town game in Legazpi City two months ago.
Mallari on the other hand, sat out the Road Warriors’ final game last conference due to a sprain on his left ankle.
“Fonacier and Mallari are fit to play. No more injuries,” according to interim mentor Adonis Tierra, who is currently calling the shots for NLEX as head coach Yeng Guiao is overseeing the Philippine men’s basketball team’s campaign in the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Tierra said the Road Warriors are all doing good even in the absence of Guiao and the injured backcourt tandem of Kevin Alas and rookie Kiefer Ravena.
“So far we’re practicing great with coach Yeng out for the Asian Games, mataas naman ang morale ng mga bata,” he said. “We hope we’ll be able to execute our plays against TnT.”
It’s good too, the Road Warriors brought in import Olu Ashaolu earlier to give him the time to adjust and blend with the team.
Ashaolu already suited up for the team in its last game during the Commissioner’s Cup as a replacement for Arnett Moultrie. He scored 31 points on 9-of-18 shooting and added 12 rebounds in a 116-89 loss to Magnolia Pambansang Manok.
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