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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Souped-up NLEX clashes with TNT in Taulava's jersey retirement

Souped-up NLEX clashes with TNT in Taulava's jersey retirement

Published Dec 13, 2023 03:57 am

At A Glance

  • A souped-up NLEX side aims to snap a three-game slide and celebrate Asi Taulava's jersey retirement with a big win against TNT in the 2023 PBA Commissioner's Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Wednesday, Dec. 13.
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A souped-up NLEX side aims to snap a three-game slide and celebrate Asi Taulava’s jersey retirement with a big win against TNT in the 2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Wednesday, Dec. 13.

 

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The Road Warriors, who are fresh off a deal that allowed them to acquire Robert Bolick from the NorthPort Batang Pier, tangle against the fellow skidding Tropang Giga in the 8 p.m. clash with the jersey retirement of Taulava serving as a fitting sidelight at the halftime break.

Called "The Rock" for his dominance inside the paint, Taulava played the last eight years of his colorful and well-decorated 23-year PBA career with NLEX while he began his journey in the league with the TNT franchise where he got his lone championship along with the league and Finals MVP citation in 2003, four years since he was acquired by the team as a direct-hire in 1999.

The contest also comes after another interesting collision between Terrafirma and Converge in the first offering at 4 p.m.

Also set to make his debut for NLEX is Bolick who got activated ahead of the contest along with Taulava and Hessed Gabo. The one-time All-Star is expected to provide the firepower to NLEX with Kevin Alas sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and with the departure leading local scorer Don Trollano and able contributor Kris Rosales as part of the deal.

Familiarity shouldn't be a problem for Bolick having worked with head coach Frankie Lim in college.

Aside from Bolick, much of responsibility to lead the team falls to the shoulders of import Stokley Chaffee Jr. and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser especially especially that NLEX is currently free-falling with a 2-5 slate.

Chaffee Jr., however, has yet to win a game since taking over for original choice Thomas Robinson and he may need to do it against another NBA veteran in TNT’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

It’s been a roller coaster ride for TNT so far in the season, dropping a 109-95 decision against Meralco and a disappointing 128-123 loss to NorthPort in overtime. Jayson Castro, Calvin Oftana along with veterans Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes expected to provide support for the 2-3 Tropang Giga

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