Little time to savor title as NLEX prepares for next D-League tiff

MANILA, Philippines – With an intact lineup, newly crowned PBA D-League Aspirants Cup champion NLEX is looking forward to stretch its dynastic reign for another conference as it gears up for the forthcoming Foundations Cup starting on March 18.

"We have little time to celebrate because we're starting preparations for the next D-League Conference opening next month," said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez, whose charges recently swept Big Chill in their title showdown to clinch their fifth title in the last six conferences.

Fernandez said more than half of his players headed by Garvo Lanete, the reigning Aspirants Cup MVP, are using this coming conference as their swan song as they are set to enter the PBA rookie draft this year.

"I'm sure my players who want to play in the PBA want to end their amateur careers with another championship," said Fernandez, who has won a championship in the pros (Sta. Lucia), the collegiate ranks (San Beda, NCAA) and the D-League.

Aside from Lanete, other Road Warriors contemplating on taking the leap of faith are Jake Pascual, Kevin Alas, Rome dela Rosa, Matthew Ganuelas, Kyle Pascual and Ronald Pascual, who is the only player left in the original team that made six straight finals stints, winning five titles.

Lanete said he's going all out to help the team win another championship.

"I will apply for the draft this year, I've already decided on it," said Lanete, who also won championship with the San Beda Lions in the NCAA.

"But first, I will still play one more conference and hopefully help my team win another championship," he added.

Fernandez made special mention of this championship as one of the most memorable especially coming off an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Blackwater in last year's Foundations Cup.

"We used it as a motivation because every one of us is one in redeeming ourselves from that painful sweep," he said.

NLEX's most recent success was also attributed to the Gilas experience of some of its standouts.

Jake Pascual, for one, has become a stronger inside force and his 17-point, 15-rebound , four-block performance in their decisive 88-70 Game Two rout of Big Chill after sharpening his skills suiting up for Gilas' cadet team.

And so with Alas, who has transformed from a high-scoring shooting guard to a pure point guard.

"If you look at Kevin (Alas), he's playing the point now and playing it well," said Fernandez.