Guiao’s battlecry: Win as many games

Games today (Ynares-Antipolo)

4:15 p.m. – Kia vs TNT KaTropa

7 p.m. – Star vs Alaska

MANILA, Philippines - NLEX coach Yeng Guiao stressed Wednesday night their goal is to win as many games and the coming PBA Rookie Draft that may well feature blue-chip players led by Fil-German Gilas player Christian Standhardinger is the least of their concern.

The Road Warriors are raring to redeem themselves from their Philippine Cup and Commissioner’s Cup letdowns even at the expense of losing a clear shot at the No. 1 pick.

“I’m not thinking of the No. 1 pick. All I’m thinking is to win. That’s our job, that’s our objective. Whatever is given us, we’ll take it,” said Guiao after a third straight win in the PBA Governors Cup at the expense of his former team Rain or Shine, 122-114.

Since the arrival of JR Quiñahan, Larry Fonacier and Alex Mallari from a trade deal, the Road Warriors have made a big turnaround, winning five of six games. Before that surge, NLEX was 2-18 in the season.

But Guiao played down what they’ve achieved so far.

“Three-zero doesn’t make us a contender. We’re not yet at the level of the other teams, not Rain or Shine or Alaska – teams that we have beat. We’re just having a good run,” he said.

Meanwhile, Star brings in a new import in chase of a second straight versus slumping Alaska Milk while Commissioner’s Cup losing finalist TNT KaTropa finally makes its third conference debut against Kia Picanto at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo tonight.

The Texters and the Kia quintet clash at 4:15 p.m. then the Hotshots and the Aces collide in the 7 p.m. mainer featuring the PBA debut of former Illinois U standout Malcolm Hill.

Star fields a new import despite a 103-86 rout of Blackwater Sunday.

Cinmeon Bowers made measly 15 points, eight rebounds, five assists and one block in almost 30 minutes in a so-so PBA debut prompting the Hotshots to quickly effect the import change.

Now comes Hill, fresh out of Illinois U where he earned an All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2015 and All-Big Ten second team citations in 2016 and 2017.

In 2015, he was among 22 players invited to training camp for the US team to the Pan American Championship in Toronto, Canada. He failed to make the final roster, though.

After being left undrafted in the 2017 NBA draft, Hill played with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Orlando Summer League. Thus, he’s surely in shape as he joins the Star Hotshots.

As Bowers struggled to find rhythm, the Star locals took over as they got off to a triumphant Governors Cup start after a semifinal loss to the San Miguel Beermen in the last Commissioner’s Cup.