CEBUANO playmaker Macmac Tallo proved his worth in an NLEX Road Warriors uniform after showing off breakout performances in the 2018 Asia League Summer Super 8 in Macau.

The two-time Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) MVP got a fresh start under the Road Warriors, which signed him last month.

The former Southwestern University-Phinma Cobras stalwart was the 10th overall pick in the 2017 PBA Draft by the Talk N Text Ka Tropa. But Tallo found himself at the end of the bench in a loaded TNT backcourt that has Gilas members Jason Castro and Terrence Romeo.

With a new team, Tallo showed flashes of brilliance as he top-scored for the Road Warriors with 16 points, five rebounds and three assists in a 75-63 semis loss to Guangzhou Long Lions in the 2018 Asia League Summer Super 8 in the Macau East Asian Games Dome the other day.

Coming in as underdogs in the tournament, the Road Warriors surprised everyone when they erased a 17-point deficit to stun the Xinjiang Flying Tigers, 88-78, last Friday to advance to the semis against Guangzhou Long Lions.

In that game, Tallo scored all of his 12 points in the second half and finished with eight assists and six rebounds to lead the Road Warriors together with fellow Cebuano JR Quinahan, who scored 11 of his 18 points in the final quarter.

The performance of Tallo in the come-from-behind win earned the respect of veteran coach Yeng Guiao.

“It’s a revelation for guys like Mac (Tallo), Jansen (Rios) and Iggy (Kenneth Ighalo). I think we’ll go back to Manila with a newfound sense of confidence,” said Guiao on report at Spin.Ph.

Tallo also had a good game against ETLand Elephants in the elimination round last Wednesday, where he finished with 13 points, five rebounds and three assists in a 75-60 loss.

The Road Warriors were playing ETLand for third place as of press time. (RSC)