Nagbago na ang tono para kay Paul Asi Taulava makaraan ang meeting niya kina NLEX coach Yeng Guiao at team manager Ronald Dulatre kahapon sa Road Warriors headquarters sa FCL Bldg. sa Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
Ayon kay Dulatre, nais na ng 43-year-old, 6-foot-9 Fil-Tongan na manatili pa rin sa NLEX sa pagrekonsidera sa unang planong magpa-trade na natalakay niya bago matapos ang taon kay Manila North Tollways Corp. president Rod Franco.
“He said he’s just frustrated as he’s not able to contribute much to the team. He was thinking what can he do to be of more help,” hirit ni Dulatre sa cager na hindi pa adjusted sa sistema ni Guiao kaya’t nasa ilalim ang kampo sa PBA Philippine Cup elims sa 1-5 win-loss record gaya ng Mahindra.
Dinagdag pa niyang nagpaumanhin si Taulava dahil sa hindi agad nasabi kay Guiao ang kanyang naunang plano sanhi sa inatake siya ng grabeng migraine.
Naunang nagpahayag si Guiao na nirerespeto niya ang kahilingan ni Taulava na magpa-trade dahil lang sa nabawasan ito ng playing time mula sa nakukuha dating lampas sa 30 minutes sa pinalitan ni Guiao na si Boyet Fernandez.
“Ever since and in whatever team I’ve coached in the past, I always respect wishes by players to be traded. My attitude is it’s always healthy for a team to have players or retain players who feel happy and ready to contribute to the effort. If anybody says he feels he’s better off, to me, it’s an honest expression of their feeling. It’s good for both parties. I respect that,” ani Guiao.
Pero may paalala si Guiao kay Taulava.
“If he expects his old playing time and his old role, malabo ‘yon. Ever since, I don’t play any player for more than 30 minutes. Even Paul Lee, Beau Belga or Jeff Chan, I didn’t play them 30 minutes a game. If that’s the condition that he expects, that’s not viable,” sabi pa ni Guiao. “My system and style of play has always been up-tempo. If we’re to slow down to wait him to get in the post, I will not compromise my philosophy. It’s that simple,” panapos niya.