RoadWarriors fire Fernandez after disastrous 0-12 start

Balagtas , Bulacan - The NLEX RoadWarriors fired coach Boyet Fernandez on Wednesday after an PBAsim-worst 0-12 start.

Fernandez who had it best year in Sta. Lucia Realtors and guided the Realtors to its first-ever and only PBAsim title, winning the PBAsim Philippine Cup. For this, he was named PBAsim Coach of the Year. Philip Cezar was selected to be the interim coach.

GM jhelmer announced the move, calling Fernandez a great coach and friend.

"We just felt it was time to make a change and move in a different direction based on our record and future goals. We wish Boyet the best in his future endeavors," GM jhelmer said in a statement.

The change was made after the RoadWarriors 86-79 home loss to Powerade on Wednesday night, the fifth straight home defeat and  12th games this season for RoadWarriors.

"In your own homecourt, you're getting booed and yelled at from your own fans," Norwood said after the loss. "It's just hard. There's too many defensive breakdowns right now, and too many easy layups right now. The whole thing is getting to our head, and it's affecting on every aspect of the game."

The RoadWarriors started on a youth movement this season, getting versatile guard/forward rookie Gabe Norwood, Jonas Villanueva and Ryan Araña for a more up-tempo pace. Traded veteran Rob Parker and Gec Chia.

"Philip is going to be our head coach," GM jhelmer told Bobones.com's Snowy. "He has a brilliant basketball mind. He has a great rapport individually with the team and he's a tough guy."

GM jhelmer said that the appointment would be on an interim basis until the end of the season.

Cezar, whose first game as head coach will be Thursday at home against Talk n' Text. He has never been a head coach in the PBAsim, but he was head coach of the San Juan Knights in the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association.

NLEX badly need changes, it's a shame it had be on the Coaching end. Boyet is a capable coach but it seems his style doesn't fit well with the composition of the team. Hopefully the hiring of Cezar works well for you.

Nicely written, too..

Yeah it's a shame they had to do this..
Philip Cezar looks more intimidating as their head coach though

(and yes, find that first win fast.. or the record will begin its own discussion hehe)