CHICAGO - Besides the occasional heartbreak and the recurring mental stress, getting exposed to bodily harm is part of a coach's job.
Frankie Lim, the bench boss at NLEX, already knows all of that; he was simply reminded of it when an injury kept him from coaching the Road Warriors' tiff versus Blackwater last Wednesday.
"Natamaan ng bola. Bad sprain," Lim told me via text message.
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A 15-year veteran known for his toughness and sweet shooting, Lim is apparently not just a harmless participant in team practices. At age 64, he is still nimble and eager to mingle.
Which suits Frankie perfectly fine because those hyper active, drill-intensive sessions are a huge reason why NLEX is 4-1 and No. 2 in the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup standings.
"It's how we work in our practices. Giving us good results," Lim asserts.
INDEED.
NLEX is averaging 103.8 points, 49 rebounds and 19.8 assists through five games while holding their foes to 97 points an outing and forcing them into 14.2 turnovers per.
But it's their defense that is most impressive - limiting the opposition to just 41.6 percent from the field (167-of-401) and a stone cold (27.8 percent from three (41-of-147).
Still, Lm believes that this unit isn't the strongest he's ever had to lead since taking over the NLEX coaching gig last September 2022.
"We were stronger when Brandon (Ganeulas-Rosser) was here. That's pretty obvious," he said of the former No. 1 overall pick who was shipped by the Road Warriors to TNT in a three-team deal last month,
Although he misses BGR, Lim is quickly warming up to his new resident star, Robert Bolick. The former NorthPort staple is averaging 30 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists per while shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 42.4 percent from 3.
"Nice to have players like him in your team. Take-charge guy, eh."
AS A FORMER PLAYER HIMSELF, LIM WASN'T TOO SHABBY, EITHER.
He was a champion across three decades - twice at San Beda in the NCAA during the 70s and nine titles in the PBA in the 80s and 90s. The "been there, done that" mojo explains why he's pretty much even-tempered during these prosperous times.
He's also realistic. He knows those teams in the SMC bloc - Ginebra, San Miguel and Magnolia - are the kings of the hill.
"To be honest, they have the strongest teams in the PBA. But we can always try and find ways to beat them."
Whether NLEX can measure up to their corporate rivals remains to be seen. But one thing is inarguable for now.
The Road Warriors are the best team among the MVP Group franchises.
Thankfully, Frankie is on the mend and will be back to assume full duties "in a couple of days."
Apparently, when good vibes rain, it also pours.
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