NLEX Road Warriors

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

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
2019 NLEX Road Warriors season
Founded2014
HistoryNLEX Road Warriors (2014–present)
Team colorsBlue, Orange, White
              
CompanyNLEX Corporation
Board governorRodrigo Franco
Christopher Lizo (alternate)
Team managerRonald Dulatre
Allan Gregorio (assistant)
Head coachYeng Guiao
OwnershipManuel V. Pangilinan
Light
Dark

The Road Warriors began in the PBA Developmental League (PBA D-League) as one 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 KaTropa and the Meralco Bolts).

History

PBA D-League
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

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
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) 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

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

Yeng Guiao's transfer to NLEX

This is the start wherein the NLEX Road Warriors took a big step with multi-titled coach Yeng Guiao. Coach Guiao is looking to improve the roster and will try to make it as a championship team.

In July 2018, they represented the Philippines, along with Blackwater Elite in the Asia League's Summer Super 8 Invitational Tournament held in Macau.[11]

Current roster
NLEX Road Warriors roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#POBNameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY–MM–DD)From
F/C 2 Miranda, Michael 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1990–12–12 San Sebastian
F/C 4 Soyud, Raul 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1991–01–14 Philippines
G 6 Alas, Kevin 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1991–11–13 Letran
G/F 8 Baguio, Cyrus 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1980–08–19 UST
G 9 Paniamogan, Philip 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1991–05–30 José Rizal
G/F 10 Varilla, Paul 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) –10–08 UE
G/F 12 Fonacier, Larry 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1982–05–13 Ateneo
G 13 Lao, Kyles 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 1995–06–10 Philippines-Diliman
F 14 Porter, Kris 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1994–09–02 Ateneo
F 17 Ighalo, Kenneth 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1989–01–11 Mapúa
G 24 Ravena, Kiefer 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1993–10–27 Ateneo
F/C 28 Paredes, Philip 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1992–01–12 De La Salle
F/C 37 Quiñahan, J. R. 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1984–05–08 Visayas
G 39 Cruz, Jericho 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1990–10–11 Adamson
G/F 77 Galanza, Bong 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1992–12–21 UE
C 88 Taulava, Asi (C) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1973–03–02 BYU–Hawaii
F – Semerad, Anthony  6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1991–04–25 San Beda
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Team manager
  • Ronald Dulatre
  • Raymond Celis (Assistant)


Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (I) Import
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • (R) Rookie
  • Injured

Roster

Head coaches
Name Start End Seasons Overall Record Best finish
WLPCTG
Boyet Fernandez2014201622844.38972Quarterfinals
Yeng Guiao2016Incumbent

Season-by-season records
Main article: List of NLEX Road Warriors seasons
Records from the 2019 PBA season:
Conf.Team nameElimination roundPlayoffs
FinishWLPCTStageResults
PHINLEX Road Warriors8th/1247.3648th seed playoffsAlaska 88, NLEX 80*
COM12th/1238.273Did not qualify
GOV1st/1283.727QuarterfinalsNorthPort def. NLEX** in 2 games
Total elimination round1518.4550 Semifinal appearances
Total playoffs03.0000 Finals appearances
Total 20191521.4170 Championships
Total franchise71113.3860 Championships

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

See also

References
  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. Lintag, Paul (July 13, 2018). "SUPER 8: PBA's NLEX, Blackwater, set for Macau invitational". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
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