MONTALBAN—NLEX caught a crucial break in its 80–72 win over Blackwater on Friday at the newly opened Ynares Center II, as the Bossing missed their top guns due to injury.
Blackwater played without star guard Sedric Barefield, who sat out with a hamstring issue, while forward Christian David exited early after spraining his ankle just four minutes into the game.
Road Warriors head coach Jong Uichico admitted that the absence of the Bossing’s top two offensive weapons eased their path to a third straight win in the PBA Philippine Cup.
“Malaking bagay na hindi naglaro si Barefield kasi baka ‘yun pa ang naging problema namin, e,” Uichico said via the PBA website.
Barefield, the No. 2 pick in the last draft, had been averaging 18 points in four games. Uichico noted that NLEX had focused their preparations heavily on containing him.
“Ilang araw kami nagpa-practice para kay Barefield. Minsan nagugulo ka rin e, minsan ‘yung player nagugulo rin. Pinaghandaan mo si Barefield, tapos ‘yun pala hindi maglalaro. Minsan nangyayari ‘yun,” he added.
Still, Uichico clarified it wasn’t necessarily an advantage:
“Hindi ko sinabi na nakakabuti. Nakakagulo.”
The post NLEX capitalizes on Blackwater injuries for third straight win first appeared on Fastbreak.
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