MANILA – Asi Taulava is set for a record-tying feat after being activated by the NLEX Road Warriors for the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup which opens today at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Road Warriors interim head coach Adonis Tierra confirmed the reactivation of the 49-year-old Filipino-Tongan center to cover up for the injuries and decimation in their frontline rotation.
Taulava, a many-time national men’s basketball team member, is expected to cover up for JR Quinahan who is ruled out for the rest of the conference due to an injury, and Negrense Raul Soyud who was traded to the TNT Tropang Giga.
“I asked the NLEX management to activate Asi because our frontline rotation is shorthanded and Brandon (Ganuelas-Rosser) is just joining us from Blackwater,” said Tierra.
“Asi has always kept himself in tip-top shape and it is evident that he is ready to go when called up by the team,” he added. “He has joined the NLEX training the past few days and he is looking good.”
This will be Taulava’s first time to play again in the PBA following his one-and-done appearance in the 2021 PBA Governors’ Cup during NLEX’s 116-86 win over Terrafirma Dyip on December 18, 2021.
In the said game, the one-time PBA champion and one-time PBA MVP awardee finished with three points after connecting an outside conversion in almost three minutes of playing time.
If Tierra plays Taulava just a single game this season, the 6-foot-9 center will tie the legendary Robert Jaworski for the longest tenure ever by a player in Asia’s oldest play-for-pay league.
Meanwhile, aside from Quinahan, the Road Warriors will also be missing the services of veterans Anthony Semerad and Philip Paniamogan at the onset of the Commissioner’s Cup as they both went under the knife.
“Tony Semerad and (Philip) Paniamogan are done na (with their operation). Strengthening and recovering na lang sila,” said Tierra. “Matt Nieto and Paul Varilla were already cleared and can return in time for our first game.”/PN
