By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The NLEX Road Warriors already kicked off its off-season preparations for the upcoming PBA Commissioner’s Cup Conference after tapping the services of former NBA enforcer Ed Davis as their official reinforcement.
It was the Road Warriors that proudly announced their latest acquisition on their various social media pages which was also confirmed by their head coach Jong Uichico.
A former 13th overall pick during the 2010 NBA Rookie Draft, Davis’ selection stock got boosted after being hailed as a member of the ACC All-Freshman Team in 2009 and was an NCAA champion with the North Carolina Tar Heels the same season.
However, Davis was immediately relegated to the NBA G League and played for the Eri BayHawks before getting recalled by the Toronto Raptors, the franchise that drafted him in the first round.
Davis spent his first three years with the Raptors and quickly made an impact, filling the role as the squad’s efficient two-way player off the bench.
After three seasons in Toronto, Davis would jump places and signed with Memphis, Lakers, Portland, Brooklyn, Utah, Minnesota, and Cleveland.
During the 2021-2022 NBA season, Davis had his last stop in the big boys’ league before failing to make a team midway through that year, forcing him to test the waters overseas and suit up in China and Puerto Rico.
After another disappointing playoff finish last PBA Governor’s Cup, the Road Warriors once again went all in, targeting a former experienced NBA player to team up with Robert Bolick and the rest of the crew.
In the first round of the Governor’s Cup, the Road Warriors saw their post-season hopes quickly crash when they got eliminated by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and the TNT Tropang Giga.
Back with a vengeance, NLEX will look to improve for the upcoming second installment of the PBA’s import-laced conference and replicate the feat that they achieved several years ago when they were able to book a semifinal ticket.
