The road less traveled

Asi needs better passing options
(Photo credits to Sports5)

This is not how a "feel good" story such as the NLEX Road Warriors' 42-year-old starting center Asi Taulava's should be going.

Trying his very best to postpone his retirement and prove his worth to Philippine basketball (which he doesn't really have to, being a certified future PBA Hall of Famer), Taulava finds himself trying to lead a hapless team that suffered yet another setback this PBA Governor's Cup just a few hours ago to the GlobalPort Batang Pier squad. Hell, even his coach (Boyet Fernandez) has been quoted to be missing some of his old wards from another team because he says that he just doesn't have the right tools to get the job done.

Let's see here: imports Kwame Alexander (40 mpg 21 ppg 14 rpg 2 apg) and Michael Madanly (30 mpg 19 ppg 3 rpg 3 apg), Taulava (30 mpg 16 ppg 10 rpg 1 apg), Nino Canaleta (20 mpg 8 ppg 4 rpg 1 apg), a revived Enrico Villanueva, healthy Jonas Villanueva (30 mpg 6 ppg 3 rpg 4 apg), a "one more match" Mac Cardona (20 mpg 9 ppg 4 rpg 2 apg) and under-rated shooter/defender John Wilson. Plus two stretch fours in Aldrech Ramos and Mark Borboran.

So what else is missing?

Youth.

While Taulava continues to defy Father Time, his teammates-- the starting locals, are looking every bit their age (and injuries). Enrico Villanueva is trying to find his old, big bad self, but he's looked more and more like a fake tough guy ever since that incident with Marc Pingris (YouTube it). He tries to start a ruckus, but no one's afraid of him (not Ryan Arana, not Paul Lee, not the Alaska bench, not nobody). Then there's Jonas, who is the default starting point guard only because Pamboy Raymundo still can't play any decent offense or, well, not give up stupid fouls, and Wyne Arboleda is what? 50 years old?

To his credit,  Cardona seems to still want the basketball. He wants his shot. He wants to be the main man-- scorer, like he has always been when he was with DLSU, Talk'n'Text and Meralco (before he was displaced and asked to be "Mark"). Unfortunately, there seems to be a lack of trust between him and Coach Boyet. Sometimes he gets his minutes, others he's on the bench. We'd love to see him run with Wilson, since both players can defend, run and score. Perhaps in the Philippine Cup. Perhaps not.

Canaleta is only interested in shooting threes. He can defend in the post, but not outside. Unfortunately, he's not strong enough to match up with most of today's PBA 4s. A viable and logical off the bench option than starter, IMHO.

Ramos and Borboran are the same players-- can shoot from the perimeter, too weak to play post defense, too slow to play perimeter defense. Can dribble somewhat, but not by much. Looks lost on the floor. These two guys are still young, all they need to do is find a niche fast. Ramos has shown some fight in him, he'd be better off concentrating on crashing the boards. Borboran is soft.

Where's Kelvin Gregorio? That guy was better.

The Road Warriors need to find a young point guard (Baser Amer in 2015!). They need quicker guys to play the wings.

Coach Boyet said something about missing Ryan Reyes and Kelly Williams. Those two guys, if and when healthy, would be a natural and great fit for this NLEX team. Reyes instantly starts at the 1. Williams as your 4 who is quick enough to guard 3s when needed.

We can only hope that the Road Warriors' turn their fortunes around.

For Taulava's sake.