NLEX is adding firepower in a bid to turn its fate around in the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs.
The Road Warriors has activated rookie LJay Gonzales for the coming quarterfinals where the eighth seeded team faces no less than defending champion and no. 1 seed San Miguel Beermen.
The former Far Eastern University standout just signed with NLEX following a second straight MPBL Finals stint with the Quezon Huskers and had been practicing with the team for the past four days.
READ: It's SMB vs NLEX, Meralco vs ROS, Ginebra vs Converge, Magnolia vs TNT
Gonzales was selected by NLEX as the no. 5 overall pick in the last Season 50, but finished his commitment with the Huskers first before finally taking his act to the Road Warriors.
He’s expected to form an explosive backcourt duo with Road Warriors’ top gunner Robert Bolick.
Gonzales’ activation relegated guard Amer Baser to the reserved list as teams rushed to beat the deadline for the official playoffs roster on Tuesday.
The move to add Gonzales to the active roster is badly needed by an NLEX side that lost its last three games in the eliminations and was booted out in contention for a twice-to-beat advantage in the playoffs.
On top of the standings at 6-2 after the FIBA window, the Road Warriors lost to Magnolia, TNT, and Converge – the last two without Bolick, who was with Gilas Pilipinas in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games – and fell to 6-5 overall and out of the loop in the Top 4 standings.
Gonzales will be the second draftee to be lined up by the Road Warriors for the season after burly big man Lorenz Capulong.
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