The NLEX Road Warriors looked like a contender to begin the PBA Governors’ Cup, rattling off six straight wins to start the conference before going 1‑2 in their last three outings—including a heartbreaking 112‑110 setback to the Converge FiberXers where NLEX played without import DeQuan Jones, who suffered a broken leg in the Road Warriors’ 118‑111 victory over the TNT Tropang 5G a game earlier.
Where Does NLEX Stand at the Moment
The Road Warriors are currently tied with the San Miguel Beermen for the league’s best record overall at 7‑2 but are No. 1 in Group A because they won their only meeting with the Beermen thus far. However, the way NLEX ended the first part of action seems to suggest a team that could be more vulnerable than at the start of the conference, when the Jimmy Alapag‑helmed squad won five of its first six outings by double digits.
What to Watch Out for When NLEX Returns
All eyes will be on Deonte Burton, who has taken over for DeQuan Jones. Burton is coming in with impressive credentials and an undeniable pedigree, but he is also stepping in for an import who proved to be a perfect fit for NLEX—a three‑level scorer who could take over down the stretch but was secure enough to let the locals shine.
No less than Robert Bolick underscored Jones’s primordial role to NLEX’s fantastic start this conference, even calling him the franchise’s Justin Brownlee—a lofty comparison given the latter’s legendary status in the PBA already. In short, Burton has enormous shoes to fill and will have the unenviable task of helping the Road Warriors finish with a flourish after Jones spearheaded them to a superb start.
However, if NLEX’s 95‑81 loss to the Magnolia Hotshots in the PBA On Tour is any indication, Burton might have a lot of catching up to do if he wants to approximate what Jones gave Alapag and company. The 32‑year‑old American struggled with just 11 points against an importless Magnolia squad and looked nothing like a highly touted NBA alum. Then again, it was only an exhibition, and it’s entirely possible Burton was just playing possum and holding back.
Locals to Keep an Eye On
The obvious answers are Robert Bolick and Schonny Winston, who have formed a prolific, hard‑to‑stop partnership in leading NLEX to a fast start. Before the break, Bolick averaged 17.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 7.6 assists, while Winston put up 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. Expect the two to be the Road Warriors’ top guns again, with Bolick likely to turn things up a notch as he looks to bring NLEX deeper into the playoffs this time around.
This version of NLEX, though, isn’t just a two‑horse squad. Alapag has seemingly unleashed the others this conference, and it’s part of the reason the Road Warriors have looked like contenders. Two players, in particular, who could make or break NLEX’s conference are Kevin Alas and David Semerad. During the team’s pristine 6‑0 start, Alas and Semerad were on‑point, if not on fire, with Alas’s playmaking giving NLEX a superb third option behind Bolick and Winston, and Semerad’s three‑point sniping and defense proving to be difference makers.
Outlook
Barring an epic collapse, the NLEX Road Warriors will likely take one of the top two spots in Group A as two of the team’s last three games are against bottom‑feeders Macau Giant Pandas and Titan Ultra Giant Risers. However, the jury’s still out as to whether or not the Road Warriors can finally make it past the quarterfinals. That’s where Deonte Burton comes in. If he’s as good as his credentials say he is, then maybe NLEX might actually be due for a breakthrough.
