Juami fills void left by Ravena as NLEX wins
MANILA, Philippines — Wednesday’s game against a retooled Blackwater was just another day in the office for NLEX’s Juami Tiongson.
The Road Warriors guard, who was put in the forefront of running the team’s offense after Kiefer Ravena's sudden shelving, made the most out of the opportunity. He finished with a double-double (10 points and 10 assists), starting for Yeng Guiao and helping lead his team to a 93-89 victory over a hapless Blackwater side.
“Collectively, we had to step up,” he offered the press after the game. “’Yun ‘yung hinihingi ni coach from all of us.”
"You know Kiefer and Kevin and what they bring to the team, their individual skills, parang ‘di namin mama-match 'yun, kasi, maybe we’re not as skilled as talented as them. So we had to do it collectively,” Tiongson added.
Every Road Warrior who took the court that game was able to register a contribution to the scoring column, which Tiongson said was their way of heeding to their coach’s plea for a collaborative effort to fill the all-star guards’ void and improve their standings in the Commissioner's Cup.
"Coach Yeng never said naman na 'o, Juami, ikaw dapat magstep up.' Wala. He didn't say that. He said na as a group, as a team, we have to step up,” the fourth-year guard noted.
Ravena was slapped by FIBA with a suspension barring him from international play for a substance violation. The Road Warriors management is currently in coordination with the international body to determine whether the scope of the penalty includes the cager’s stint in the PBA, due to its affiliation.
As if that’s not enough of a gut punch to a slumping NLEX camp, the team is also reeling from Kevin Alas’ absence due to a knee injury.
Tiongson, for his part, admitted that the road is only going to get tougher as they move forward.
“It's tough. It [seems] insurmountable kasi our top two guards aren't there. Two of the best guards in the PBA, wala. But then sabi naman ni Coach Yeng, we can do it eh. And if your leader says you can do it, you have to do it,” he said.
“We stand with [Kiefer], but we have to show it through action as well. We cant just keep on posting, saying na we’re behind him but we don't show it through actions. So we as a group, as a team, have to show it and we have to do it by doing the little things collectively,” Tiongson closed.
NLEX will try to sustain the approach as they take on sister team TNT next.
The Road Warriors are currently 2-4 in the Commissioner’s Cup.
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