CHICAGO - It looks like coach Frankie Lim has one foot out of the door at the NLEX Road Warriors.
With his contract set to expire this September, multiple sources told me that Lim, is unlikely to get an extension.
NLEX's mulled coaching change, I was told, stems from the frustration of a disappointing finish following an impressive start to its PBA Philippine Cup campaign. Management believes the Road Warriors are a Final Four team.
READ Frankie Lim deals with hazards of coaching job
I reached out to alternate team governor Ronald Dulatre for comment but he didn't pick up the phone or reply to text messages.
Obviously, it's their prerogative to change personnel, but if the Road Warriors think they are a semifinals team, they're having delusions of grandeur.
Here's how awful NLEX was during its ill-fated Philippine Cup campaign.
The Road Warriors were ranked last among 12 teams in rebounding (44.9). No. 6 in points per game scored (97), No. 10 in assists (19.4) and No. 11 in field goal percentage shooting (42.4).
OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S NO D IN NLEX.
The Road Warriors are sixth in points per game allowed at 98.8, No. 8 in field goal percentage allowed (44.3) and No.11 in blocked shots with 2.5 per.
Ironically, Lim's departure, assuming the bosses go ahead with their plan, was triggered by a 6-1 start that created unrealistic expectations.
In reality, the Road Warriors' early success with wins over NorthPort, Blackwater, Terrafirma, Converge and erratic Magnolia. merely masked their shortcomings.
The sky wasn't the limit for NLEX. The team was limited by loss and injuries.
In acquiring Robert Bolick in a trade last December, NLEX gave up starting guards Kris Rosales and Don Trollano, hurting the team's offensive flow as reflected by its assists output.
Injuries to bigs Michael Miranda (back) and Dave Marcelo (pulled hamstring) resulted in the team being bullied in the paint and abused off the boards.
Somehow, all of these wrinkles are Lim's fault.
WHO'S NEXT?
Jong Uichico appears to be the leading candidate. When I reached out, he said he "can't answer" my call and that he isn't "privy to coach Frankie's contract."
Uichico, who doubles as head of the SBP's coaching academy, was named aNLEX lead assistant last December. That move, sources told, was a precursor to him eventually taking over the helm.
Another potential candidate, coach Norman Black told me he"isn't aware of what's going on at NLEX" while a high-profile former champion coach in the MVP flock said he isn't ready to return.
NLEX is broken and the task of fixing it will require carefully thought out trades and draft picks.
Sadly, the team appears to be leaning on the lazy, easy path of just blaming the coach.
What else is new?
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