ACTING NLEX coach Adonis Tierra passed his initial test with flying colors.
In his final outing calling the shots for the Road Warriors before coach Frankie Lim formally takes over, Tierra wants nothing but a fitting gift.
NLEX seeks a second straight win when it tangles with a dangerous Blackwater five today in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The match is set at 3 o’clock, before Meralco opens its bid against NorthPort in the nightcap at 5:45 p.m.
With Lim opting to begin his coaching stint after the Road Warriors’ first two games, Tierra coached NLEX to a 96-90 victory over former Road Warriors strategist Yeng Guiao and Rain or Shine last Friday.
Lim, who was officially tapped as NLEX coach last Tuesday, also had a pending one-game suspension imposed on him during his last stint in the pro league in 2015 with Ginebra and was supposed to serve that out against Meralco last Sunday.
But the game was called off due to the threat of Typhoon “Karding.”
Tierra said Lim is slowly inserting his Xs and Os on the Road Warriors.
“Siyempre, magiging konsepto ng game against them (Bossing) ay konsepto na ni coach Frankie,” Tierra said. “Gusto niya fast paced ang opensa, takbuhan ang kalaban kung kaya, if we have the numbers. Otherwise, we have to mix it up dahil may mga halfcourt sets naman kami.
“Sa depensa naman depende sa kalaban kung mag-zo-zone kami or man-to-man. Mabilis namang na-pick up ng players,” he added.
The likes of import Earl Clark, Don Trollano, Kevin Alas, JR Quinahan and Justin Chua will be counted upon by NLEX to deliver.
The Bossing are as determined to score a big follow-up to their 97-85 triumph over Phoenix six days ago.
Blackwater will bank on reinforcement Cameron Krutwig, Troy Rosario, Gab Banal, Rey Suerte, and Ato Ular to improve its 1-1 slate.
“If we can be strong enough to compete in the All-Filipino and then we can get a good import, that would make a difference to get us over the hump. So, we just want to get a solid player, somebody who we know is good offensively and defensively and who can rebound the basketball,” Bolts strategist Norman Black said.
