Waylon Galvez
The PBA Commissioner’s Cup is still in the semis stage, but NLEX has already started its training for the season-ending Governors’ Cup.
Coach Yeng Guiao, who is out to lead his new team to the playoffs after a successful stint with Rain or Shine, knows the importance of early preparation.
“It’s good that we’re starting early, and we have everybody back plus our import Aaron Fuller,” said Guiao yesterday. “Hopefully we can get him going, get used to our system and make adjustment.”
Fuller, 27, initially suited up for Iowa from 2008 to 2011 and then played for University of South Carolina from 2010 to 2013 in the US NCAA where he emerged as one of the team’s top low post operators.
Guiao is quite impressed with Fuller’s first stint, saying he’s a welcome addition to the team.
He’s hoping that his reinforcement will complement with Rabah Al-Hussaine, Raul Soyud, JR Quinahan rookie Alfonso Gotladera and veteran Asi Taulava.
“He’s mostly an inside player, undersized but he’s comfortable at playing against big guys. He’s undersized in the US, but here, we expect him to provide inside the presence. He can also shoot from outside,” said Guiao.
The Road Warriors finished with a 2-9 win-loss record in the elimination round of the Commissioner’s Cup, which matched the team’s card during the season-opening Philippine Cup.
The team went 0-9 in the midseason conference before winning the last two, prompting Guiao and management to pull the trigger on several trades – netting Quinahan, Al-Hussaini, Larry Fonacier and Alex Mallari.
