NLEX finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel against Phoenix last Sunday night.
Showing up with a sense of urgency, the Road Warriors coach Jong Uichico said his wards simply brought their A-Game against the Fuel Masters.
“I just think everybody had the mindset to contribute. Alam nila kung gaano ka-importante ang laro,” Uichico said. “Everybody just had the mindset and will na maka-contribute sa panalong ito.
“Hindi namin kontrolado iyong result. Pero iyong chance na manalo, binigyan nila ang sarili nila ng chance,” he added.
Uichico spoke after NLEX brought down Phoenix 108-94 to snap a five-game losing streak in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The win allowed the Road Warriors to make up for an 87-94 loss to the TNT Tropang Giga last Wednesday and improve to 4-6 in a tie for ninth with the Magnolia Hotshots—just behind defending champions San Miguel Beer who are at eight.
Star gunner Robert Bolick waxed hot with 26 points, five rebounds, and nine assists for NLEX while import Mike Watkins supplied 22 markers and 18 boards.
The likes of Jonnel Policarpio, Robert Herndon and Anthony Semerad also had 17, 15 and 11 points, respectively, for the Road Warriors.
The rookie Policarpio typified his team’s eagerness to end their slump and keep alive their playoff bid.
“Ibinigay ko lang iyong best ko sa opportunities na ibinigay sa akin ni coach,” Policarpio said. “Hindi ko lang sinayang. Talagang sinunod ko lang iyong game plan namin nila coach.”
The Fuel Masters, who were led by reinforcement Donovan Smith’s 36 points and 14 caroms, failed to rebound from a 104-110 defeat to the Hotshots last Thursday and dropped to 3-7.
Uichico is not one to wave the white flag.
“Alam namin na long shot, pero at least may shot. That’s all we can rely on now, na may shot pa rin kami,” he said. “We will take every shot na we can get para makapasok sa next round.
Mayroon pa ring opportunity, maski gaano kalayo, basta mayroon pa rin, iyon pa rin ang mindset namin.”