NLEX coach Frankie Lim wants to beef up his roster with a few more players but has no specific names in mind.
“We want to get the best talent available,” Lim said.
On Thursday, Lim attended the first day of practice but mostly to observe interim coach Adonis Tierra run the team.
Tierra, Lim’s former teammate with Hills Brothers Coffee in 1987, will handle the Road Warriors in their first two games while Lim settles and makes his return.
NLEX lost its seven-year coach Yeng Guiao who returned to Rain or Shine as head tactician.
A few days after parting ways with Guiao, NLEX also unloaded two key players — promising sophomore Calvin Oftana and hardworking big man Raul Soyud — in exchange for 6-foot-7 top overall rookie pick Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.
Lim believes the team needs changes.
“We’re looking at good players. We’re going to strengthen the team,” he added.
Lim wants to keep the Road Warriors’ philosophy — fast pace and entertaining.
That poses a big challenge for the 49-year-old Asi Taulava, the oldest player in the PBA. He needs to keep himself in tip-top condition and get himself ready to run up and down the floor.
Taulava has been elevated to the regular roster after spending the past few conferences as a reserve player.
Lim wants the team to run like a Road Warrior.
“My basketball is simple. It’s up-tempo,” Lim added. “I want them running up and down the court. I want our basketball to be exciting to watch. And I want all my players here to improve because I’m a very detailed coach.”