NLEX Road Warriors reacquire Miranda

MANILA, Philippines — NLEX bolstered its middle by reacquiring former player Mike Miranda from NorthPort in exchange for guard Juami Tiongson.

Coach Yeng Guiao said the Road Warriors were fortunate to see the 6-foot-6 Miranda available and worked to get him on board again to share front line responsibilities with Poy Erram, Raul Soyud, Papot Paredes and Asi Taulava.

“We need to beef up our frontline and it so happened that Mike was available,” Guiao said of Miranda, who saw action for NLEX from 2017-18.  “Since Mike came from our team before and knows my system, he became a natural consideration.”

The Road Warriors grudgingly let go of Tiongson after NorthPort asked for the former Ateneo guard.

“We didn’t want to give up Juami but NorthPort insisted that he be the one included in the deal. We offered our second round picks but they insisted on Juami,” said Guiao.

It was Guiao who gave Tiongson his second chance in the pro league in 2017. Drafted in 2014, Tiongson wasn’t re-signed by his original team and played in the D-League before Guiao brought him back to the PBA, where he soon earned a spot in NLEX’s regular rotation.

“The mere fact that NorthPort insisted that he be part of the trade proves how much he has grown. He had actually just been granted a contract renewal with NLEX before the trade, which is an indication that he’s going to be in the league for a while. He has earned it. We’re happy to have been part of his improvement and his development in his career,”  said Guiao. 

Tiongson is leaving an NLEX backcourt that will welcome back Kiefer Ravena in the Governors Cup upon the lifting of his Fiba suspension this Sunday.