The NLEX Road Warriors is scheduled for a head-to-head game against the Blackwater Elite at 4:30 P.M. on May 30, 2018 live from the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Both teams are currently struggling finding its groove in their respective 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup campaign. The Road Warriors are looking to make a quick bounce back after getting their initial victory while the Elite hoping to make their first win this afternoon.
Coach Yeng Guiao seems like having a series of misfortunes after giving a glimpse of another championship dynasty in the helm of NLEX franchise.
Back in the 2017-18 PBA Philippine Cup semi-finals round against the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok one of their ace guard Kevin Alas suffered an injury that will keep him sideline at least the remainder of the PBA 43rd season.
Then just few days ago, an unexpected report broke out concerning their prized rookie Kiefer Ravena. The 2017 PBA rookie draft second overall pick got slapped with a 18-month suspension by the world government body FIBA. Ravena was found positive of a banned substance.
“As young as Kiefer Ravena is, he is a team leader and his teammates accept him as such,” said NLEX coach Yeng Guiao in a statement issued by the team. “Gusto ko malaman ng public that we are standing by him. He’s a good kid.”
With their feet already in the bottom hole of the standings, the Road Warriors hoping to reverse their current woeful situation. They have kept Arnett Moultrie still as their import and took advantage the All-Star break to mesh him with the system of coach Yeng Guiao.
For Blackwater on the other hand, their winning attitude started when they brought in Henry Walker as their foreign hire back in the 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup. The franchise has decided to hire his services once again and tasked to lead the locals to find their lost competitive nature.
Prior to the start of the 2018 PBA All-Star Week, the Road Warriors traded Rabbah Al-Husseini for Elite’s Dave Marcelo. Coincidentally, these two players will go head-to-head with each other wearing different uniforms.