By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Despite a losing PBA bubble season in Clark, Pampanga, the NLEX Road Warriors are still optimistic towards their future as a franchise.
The bubble helped other players step up and show what they can really bring to the table, best example would be hard-working big man Raul Soyud who was always known to be a back-up center throughout his career.
However, Soyud was able to prove most of his critiques wrong after posting 10.0 points and 6.82 rebounds on 74 % shooting from the field in 11 games in an impressive showing in Clark.
“But I think he’s one example of a player who was really relegated to the last or the end of the bench, but worked his ass off to get the playing time that he gets,” said head coach Yeng Guiao. To reward Soyud’s stellar bubble showing, the Road Warriors offered him a two-year contract extension confirmed by coach Guiao.
Meanwhile, fellow big men Mike Miranda and JR Quiñahan were also awarded with contract extensions and will look to improve their chemistry as NLEX’s main core underneath.
Quiñahan was solid throughout the bubble, averaging 13.83 points, 6.55 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per contest while Miranda had 6.73 points and 4.36 rebounds.
