NLEX Road Warriors

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
History
NLEX Road Warriors (2014–present)
Joined PBA 2014
Team colors Blue, Orange, White
              
Company Manila North Tollways Corporation
(a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation)
Owner(s) Manuel V. Pangilinan
Board governor Ramoncito Fernandez
Rodrigo Franco (alternate)
Christopher Lizo (alternate)
Team manager Ronald Dularte
Allan Gregorio (assistant)
Head coach Boyet Fernandez
Championships
None
Uniforms
Light
Dark

The NLEX Road Warriors are a professional basketball team owned by Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) that is playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) beginning the 2014–2015 season.

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 Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters and the Meralco Bolts).

History

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

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.

Current roster

NLEX Road Warriors roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From
G 3 Philippines Cardona, Mark 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1981–11–13 La Salle
G/F 4 Philippines Wilson, John (IN) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1987–01–18 JRU
G/F 5 Philippines Rios, Jansen (R / IN) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1991–10–28 Adamson
G 6 Philippines Alas, Kevin 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1991–11–13 Letran
F 7 Philippines Camson, Eric 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 228 lb (103 kg) 1990–06–12 Adamson
G/F 9 Philippines Arboleda, Harold 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1990–09–05 Perpetual
F 10 Canada Anthony, Sean 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1986–01–26 McGill
G 11 Philippines Villanueva, Jonas 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1983–03–31 FEU
G 13 Philippines Lanete, Garvo (R) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1989–02–13 San Beda
F/C 14 Philippines Villanueva, Enrico 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1980–06–23 Ateneo
F 18 Philippines Apinan, Jeckster 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 181 lb (82 kg) 1987–01–09 JRU
G 19 Philippines Arboleda, Wynne (IN) 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1976–11–28 MLQU
F 24 Philippines Khobuntin, Glenn (R) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1991–09–07 NU
F/C 42 United States Reyes, Robert 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1983–03–16 Flagler
C 88 Tonga Taulava, Asi (C) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1973–03–02 BYU-Hawaii
F -- Philippines Baracael, Marnel 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1985–04–14 FEU
G -- Philippines Monfort, Emman 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) 132 lb (60 kg) 1989–07–02 Ateneo
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Team manager
  • Philippines Ronald Dulatre
  • Philippines Allan Gregorio (Assistant)


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

Roster

Head Coaches

NLEX Road Warriors head coaches

Season-by-season records

Records from the 2014–15 PBA season:
Conf. Team name Elimination round Playoffs
Finish W L PCT Stage Results
PHI NLEX Road Warriors 10th/12 4 7 .364 Quarterfinals
1st phase 		Alaska** 83, NLEX 78
COM 4th/12 6 5 .545 Quarterfinals Meralco 2, NLEX 0
GOV 11th/12 3 8 .273 Did not qualify
Total elimination round 13 20 .394 0 semifinal appearances
Total playoffs 0 3 .000 0 Finals appearances
Total 2014-15 13 23 .361 0 championships
Total franchise 13 23 .361 0 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, Rey Joble, InterAksyon.com, April 10, 2014
  3. ↑ No direct amateur hires for expansion teams NLEX, Kia, Blackwater, Rey Joble, InterAksyon.com, April 10, 2014
  4. ↑ More concessions, but still no direct hires for PBA expansion teams Kia, NLEX, Blackwater, InterAksyon.com, April 24, 2014
  5. ↑ Joble, Rey (June 17, 2014). "No more expansion: NLEX buying existing team to join PBA". InterAksyon. Retrieved 7 November 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, 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.
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