Justin Chua was quick to make an impression on his new team as NLEX battled Barangay Ginebra in 2021-22 PBA Governors’ Cup action on Friday night.
Despite having spent just a few practices with the Road Warriors since being traded, the 6-foot-6 forward submitted 15 points on three triples as he helped his side take down the defending champions by way of a 115-103 decision.
“Justin gives us another JR Quiñahan in our team, only four or five years younger,” offered head coach Yeng Guiao moments after the match.
The 2020 Top Bubble D-Fender, Chua was acquired by NLEX via trade with Phoenix Super LPG last February 24 in exchange for young forward Kris Porter and their 2022 second-round and 2023 first round picks.
Being shipped is nothing new for the 32-year-old since he’s been a journeyman in the nine years he’s been in the league. But he confessed to Tiebreaker Times that he was saddened since he called the Fuel Masters for five years.
And he couldn’t be at fault for feeling that way. After all, it was with the young ball club where his stock rose — Chua was part of the Phoenix teams that reached the Philippine Cup semifinals in 2019 and 2020.
But that rise he had made other teams take notice, including the Road Warriors. Guiao admitted that the Ateneo product was one of the players the team had its sights on after losing Poy Erram in a complicated trade in 2020.
Thus, the satisfaction the champion mentor felt when NLEX was finally able to complete the search when it landed one of its targets. And serving as the cherry on top was the way he performed against the Gin Kings.
It was actually Chua’s best outing since dropping 19 markers against, coincidentally, the Road Warriors on Christmas Day, where he and Phoenix dealt the latter their first loss after starting out with four straight wins.
Furthermore, his contribution in their conquest of the Barangay enabled the MVP ball club to secure a twice-to-beat edge for the quarterfinals.
“He gives us a lot more steadiness, gives us a deeper rotation with our bigs, so, laking bagay,” said Guiao of his new big man.
The outspoken bench tactician, though, couldn’t help but wonder how a frontline with KJ McDaniels and Chua would do had the import stayed.
Well, they did show promise. The two played together against the Gin Kings, but it was the NBA veteran’s last ride with the Road Warriors as he had to leave for home to attend to his partner, who’s giving birth soon.
McDaniels finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds. He scored 10 in the third quarter, as he led NLEX’s turnaround after being down 15 in the first half.
(C) PBA Images
“Sana, nandiyan pa si KJ, ‘no? Sayang, sayang,” he said. “We’ll see, we’ll see.
“I hope Cameron Clark does as well a job as KJ did.”
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