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NLEX Road Warriors

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This article is about the Philippine Basketball Association team. For the defunct PBA D-League franchise, see NLEX Road Warriors (PBA D-League).

NLEX Road Warriors
2024–25 NLEX Road Warriors season
NLEX Road Warriors logo
Founded2014
HistoryNLEX Road Warriors (2014–present)
Team colorsBlue, orange, red, white
       
CompanyNLEX Corporation
Board governorRonald Dulatre
Christopher Daniel Lizo (alternate)
Team managerVirgil Villavicencio
Head coachJong Uichico
OwnershipManuel V. Pangilinan
Affiliation(s)Cavitex Braves
Retired numbers1 (88)

The NLEX Road Warriors is a professional basketball team owned by NLEX Corporation, a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) since the 2014–2015 season.

The Road Warriors began in the PBA Developmental League (PBA D-League) as one of its founding teams, winning a total of six championships. The franchise transferred to the PBA after the Manila North Tollways Corporation (a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation) acquired the PBA franchise of the Air21 Express in June 2014. It is one of three PBA teams currently under the control of businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan (the other teams are the TNT Tropang Giga and the Meralco Bolts).

History

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PBA D-League

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Main article: NLEX Road Warriors (PBA D-League)

From 2011 to 2014, the Road Warriors were the dominant team in the PBA D-League, setting a record six championships in the seven conferences that it participated. It is the second PBA D-League franchise to join the PBA.

PBA expansion franchise application

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In March 2014, Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) submitted its letter of intent to join the PBA as an expansion team.[1] On April 10, 2014, the PBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the application of NLEX, Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc. (Blackwater Elite) and Columbian Autocar Corporation (Kia Sorento) as expansion teams for the 2014–2015 season.

As a concession to Kia, which did not have a basketball team in the PBA D-League, the PBA board of governors did not allow Blackwater and NLEX to elevate their D-League players. Instead, the three expansion teams will build their teams through an expansion draft (with the ten existing teams protecting fourteen players in their respective rosters), the free agency and the rookie draft, in which the expansion teams will be given the 11th, 12th and 13th pick in the first round of the 2014 PBA draft.[2][3]

Additional concessions were given to the three expansion teams at the conclusion of the special meeting by PBA board of governors, three weeks after approving their franchise application. These included the revision of the expansion draft in which the ten existing teams will protect twelve players (from the previous fourteen), and the first three picks of the second round of the 2014 PBA draft. Only the three expansion teams will be allowed to pick players after the third round of the rookie draft.[4]

Acquisition of the Air21 Express PBA franchise

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NLEX Road Warriors logo from 2014 to 2017

While Kia and Blackwater have paid their respective franchise fees, NLEX requested for an extension, as they were studying whether to enter the PBA as an expansion team or acquire an existing PBA franchise.

On June 17, 2014, MNTC announced that it was having negotiations with a PBA team to acquire their franchise. Due to the ongoing Governors' Cup playoffs, MNTC did not identify the team they were negotiating with, but stated it will reveal the team's identity once the team was eliminated.[5][6] Days later, the team was revealed to be Air21 Express.

On June 23, 2014, an agreement was reached between MNTC and the Lina Group of Companies (owners of Air21 Express led by Alberto Lina), regarding the sale of its PBA franchise to MNTC.[7] The sale was approved during the regular monthly meeting of the board of governors, paving the way for the sale of the franchise to MNTC.[8][9][10]

PBA 2015 Commissioner's Cup

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On January 2, 2015, NBA 2007 14th overall pick Al Thornton signed with the Road Warriors.

Yeng Guiao's transfer to NLEX

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The NLEX Road Warriors took a big step with multi-titled coach Yeng Guiao, who joined the team as head coach before the 2016–17 season following a successful stint handling Rain or Shine.[11] Guiao also became NLEX's general manager.[12]

In July 2018, they represented the Philippines, along with Blackwater Elite in the Asia League's Summer Super 8 Invitational Tournament held in Macau.[13]

Under Coach Guiao, NLEX became a playoff contender and made two semifinal appearances, with its most recent being in the 2021 Governors’ Cup where they lost to eventual champion Barangay Ginebra.[11] NLEX however, failed to make the Finals during his time there.[14] NLEX also had to deal with losing some of its stars, as Poy Erram (along with a first-round pick that turned into Mikey Williams) was traded to TNT, Kiefer Ravena left for the B.League in Japan, and Jericho Cruz signed with the San Miguel Beermen in free agency.[15]

On September 2, 2022, Guiao left the Road Warriors after failing to come to terms with a contract extension.[14]

Current roster

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NLEX Road Warriors roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From
G/F 1 New Zealand Rodger, Richie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 211 lb (96 kg) 1997–01–27 UE
F/C 2 Philippines Miranda, Michael (IN) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1990–12–12 San Sebastian
G/F 4 Philippines Valdez, Enoch 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 178 lb (81 kg) 2000–05–26 Lyceum
G 7 Philippines Alas, Kevin 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1991–11–13 Letran
G 8 Philippines Bolick, Robert (C) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 178 lb (81 kg) 1993–09–13 San Beda
F 9 Philippines Fajardo, Dominick 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1993–10–25 Bulacan State
F 10 Canada Anthony, Sean 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1986–01–26 McGill
G/F 11 United States Herndon, Robbie 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1993–07–16 San Francisco State
G 12 Philippines Nieto, Matt 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1997–05–31 Ateneo
G 14 Philippines Amer, Baser 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1992–09–29 San Beda
F 16 Philippines Policarpio, Jonnel (R) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) De La Salle
F 18 Philippines Bahio, JB (R) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) San Beda
F/C 20 Philippines Marcelo, Dave 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 223 lb (101 kg) 1989–02–22 San Beda
F 22 Philippines Pascual, Jake (FA) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1988–11–11 San Beda
C 24 United States Watkins, Mike (CI) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 254 lb (115 kg) 1995–08–10 Penn State
F 26 Philippines Mocon, Javee 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 189 lb (86 kg) 1995–04–07 San Beda
F 29 Philippines Nermal, Jhan 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 172 lb (78 kg) 1993–05–19 STI WNU
F 33 Australia Semerad, Anthony 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1991–04–25 San Beda
G 77 Philippines Torres, Xyrus 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 2000–09–23 Far Eastern
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Team manager


Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (CI) Commissioner's Cup Import
  • (GI) Governors' Cup Import
  • (EI) EASL Import
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • (R) Rookie
  • Injured Injured

Roster


Head coaches

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Name Start End Seasons Overall record Best finish
W L PCT G
Boyet Fernandez 2014 2016 2 28 44 .389 72 Quarterfinals
Yeng Guiao 2016 2022 6 71 96 .425 167 Semifinals
Frankie Lim 2022 2024 2 23 28 .451 51 Quarterfinals

Season-by-season records

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Main article: List of NLEX Road Warriors seasons
Records from the 2024–25 PBA season:
Conf. Team name Elimination round Playoffs
Finish W L PCT Stage Results
GOV NLEX Road Warriors 4th in Group B 5 5 .500 Quarterfinals TNT 3, NLEX 1
COM TBD TBD TBD – TBD TBD
PHI TBD TBD TBD – TBD TBD
Total elimination round 5 5 .500 TBD
Total playoffs 1 3 .250 TBD
Total 2024–25 6 8 .429 TBD
Total franchise 127 175 .421 0 championships

*one-game playoffs
**team had the twice-to-beat advantage

Awards

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Individual awards

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PBA Mythical Second Team
PBA Sportsmanship Award

PBA Press Corps Individual Awards

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All-Rookie Team

All-Star Weekend

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All-Star MVP
Obstacle Challenge
All - Star Selection

2015

2016

  • Asi Taulava

2017

2018

2019

2023

2024

Retired numbers

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NLEX Road Warriors retired numbers
N° Player Position Tenure
88 Asi Taulava C 2014–2023[a]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Jersey number retired during Taulava's final PBA game[16]

References

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  1. ^ NLEX files letter of intent to formalize bid to put up PBA expansion team, Snow Badua, spin.ph, March 6, 2014
  2. ^ PBA approves entry of new teams NLEX, Kia, Blackwater for next season Archived October 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Rey Joble, InterAksyon.com, April 10, 2014
  3. ^ No direct amateur hires for expansion teams NLEX, Kia, Blackwater Archived April 13, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Rey Joble, InterAksyon.com, April 10, 2014
  4. ^ More concessions, but still no direct hires for PBA expansion teams Kia, NLEX, Blackwater Archived April 24, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, InterAksyon.com, April 24, 2014
  5. ^ Joble, Rey (June 17, 2014). "No more expansion: NLEX buying existing team to join PBA". InterAksyon. Archived from the original on June 22, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  6. ^ "NLEX confirms acquiring an existing PBA team, declines option to put up expansion club". Spin.ph. June 16, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  7. ^ NLEX reaches deal to acquire Air 21 franchise, awaits league approval Archived June 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Rey Joble, InterAksyon.com, June 23, 2014
  8. ^ Ballesteros, Jan (June 26, 2014). "PBA approves NLEX's acquisition of Air21 franchise". Sports Desk PH. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  9. ^ Bracher, Jane (June 26, 2014). "PBA: Air21 franchise officially sold to NLEX". Rappler. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  10. ^ Pamintuan, Carlo (June 26, 2014). "NLEX Road Warriors officially enter the PBA after buying the Air21 Express". Yahoo PH Sports. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  11. ^ a b Terrado, Jonas (September 2, 2022). "PBA: Yeng Guiao, NLEX part ways". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  12. ^ Li, Matthew (September 2, 2022). "Yeng Guiao, NLEX part ways". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  13. ^ Lintag, Paul (July 13, 2018). "SUPER 8: PBA's NLEX, Blackwater, set for Macau invitational". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  14. ^ a b Ventura, Sid (September 2, 2022). "Yeng Guiao steps down as NLEX coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  15. ^ Ramos, Gerry (September 2, 2022). "Yeng Guiao, NLEX part ways as contract talks break down". Spin.ph. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  16. ^ Gasgonia, Dennis (December 13, 2023). "PBA: NLEX retires Asi Taulava's No. 88 jersey". news.abs-cbn.com. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
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