NLEX, TNT early birds

MANILA, Philippines — NLEX started practice last Thursday with Road Warriors coach Yeng Guiao regrouping the troops early even as mainstays Kiefer Ravena and Raul Soyud were seconded to the Gilas training pool in Calamba. But TNT beat NLEX out of the gate as the first PBA team to report to the gym two days before, according to team manager Gabby Cui.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said the other day the IATF has given the green light for no-body-contact individual workouts, tweaking the original limit of four players and two coaches/trainers to five players and five coaches/trainers/safety officers/utility for each session under a strict home-gym-home routine. Deputy commissioner Eric Castro noted that the PBA is complying with the IATF Joint Administrative Order issued last July. NLEX team official Ronald Dulatre said swab tests were administered last Tuesday and everyone turned out negative. “We started our small group individual workouts upon getting clearance from GAB and the PBA after submitting the requirements including the results of our swabs,” said Dulatre.

Guiao opened camp at the UP Epsilon Chi Center. “Mostly conditioning, weights and skill work,” he said. “No interaction between players yet. Different sets of players and coaches per session. Our team doctor, Dr. Ton Arcangel, supervises our health protocols. All PBA/IATF/GAB regulations are complied with. Players follow the home-gym-home route including all the standard health protocols. We practice Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 12 noon.”

For the Monday-Wednesday-Friday 9 a.m. session, the players are Kyles Lao, Kevin Alas, Kenneth Ighalo and Papot Paredes with assistant coach Emman Monfort. For the M-W-F 10:30 a.m. session, the players are Kris Porter, Philip Paniamogan, Mike Ayonayon and Tony Semerad with assistant coach Ford Arao and safety officer Dr. Arcangel. For the Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday 9 a.m. session, the players are Mike Miranda, J. R. Quinahan, Jericho Cruz and Paul Varilla with assistant coach Borgie Hermida. For the T-Th-S 10:30 a.m. schedule, the players are Asi Taulava, Bong Galanza, Will McAloney and A.C. Soberano with assistant coach Jig Mendoza and Dr. Arcangel. Safety officers George Yorobe, Jude Eslera, Kennedy Leander and Avram Baldoria alternate in the M-W-F sessions. Utility Julius Felisilda, Lambert Malapitan, Gonzalo Delicano, Alfie Felisilda, Jomar Santiago and Felix Salamanca rotate assignments. Guiao said the schedule is good only from today up to Saturday so it may be revised next week. He drops by to observe the sessions.

Guiao said there are no plans to invite prospective draft picks at the moment, if it’s allowed. “Everyone is practicing except Larry (Fonacier) who still has health issues and concerns because some in the family are immuno-compromised,” he said. “Cyrus (Baguio) has retired. No one has been cut from our bubble lineup. Kief and Raul are occupied with Gilas.” Guiao said the initial plan was for five one-hour sessions a week but it was modified to 1 1/2 hour sessions thrice a week.

Guiao said NLEX launched an online contest for fans yesterday in the team’s Facebook page. “We’re giving away 15 tablets and a laptop in a raffle to whoever guesses our first round picks, No. 3 and No. 4, in the regular draft,” he said. “It’s a way to help those in need of gadgets for their online learning. The 15 tablets were donated by our players while I donated the laptop.” NLEX acquired the No. 3 pick in a previous three-way trade with Blackwater and TNT involving six players and four draft slots. The No. 4 pick is its own, based on the 9th place finish in the recent Philippine Cup. Guiao said the priority is to select a big man – a three, four or five. “I hope the Fil-Ams complete their papers,” he added.