NLEX coach Jong Uichico is certain the Road Warriors will reach the semifinals sooner rather than later, as long as they continue to improve.
The Road Warriors lost in the quarterfinals as the No. 1 seed for the second time in franchise history after they were ousted by eighth-ranked TNT last Saturday in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup.
Still, Uichico sees positives, including the fact that the Road Warriors finished first at the end of the eliminations.
“Mas maganda yun keysa nasa baba kami tapos twice-to-beat ang kalaban,” said Uichico. “There is something positive to look at, imbis na kabaliktaran.”
“If we can remain consistent naman this way, sooner or later, makaka-advance din kami sa semis if we are consistent in the Top Four. That means there is something. We are getting stronger. We are doing something correct.
"Hopefully, if we are consistent in the Top Four, makakaahon kami sa ganitong sitwasyon,” said Uichico.
NLEX was outplayed by TNT both times. The Road Warriors dropped the opener 96-93, last Wednesday. No thanks to Bol Bol, Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy, and Jayson Castro, NLEX trailed by as many as 22 points before being eliminated by TNT, 118-112, last Saturday.
“Daming weapons against us,” said Uichico. “Maraming mapupuntahan ng Talk ‘N Text talaga.”
“I was outcoached by Chot, trying to find these mismatches and solutions - Pogoy, Oftana, Nambatac. Lahat merong counter. May counter sila that's why lamang ng almost 20. Humabol lang nung huli pero wala na yun.
"I think we scored enough to win the game but if the score is that way, hindi kami mananalo,” said Uichico.
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