BOLTS HAVE A WINNER IN DAWSON
Meralco achieved its highest-placing ever in the Philippine Basketball Association by finishing fifth in the recent Philippine Cup.
Anything lower than that in the coming tournament would be a disappointment for coach Ryan Gregorio and his troops.
That’s why Gregorio brought in an import who understands what winning is all about – Eric Dawson.
The 6-foot-9 Dawson has won championships in almost every league he had played overseas and Gregorio is hoping his import would finally bring him to his franchise’s first ever semis stint or hopefully go all the way to the Promised Land.
“The most important thing about getting Dawson is his winning reputation,” Gregorio said. “He has won in almost every tournament he has played in.”
Gregorio has been eyeing Dawson as early as last season.
“I was able to see him during the NBDL showcase in Reno last year, but I was advised by some people there that I won’t be able to get him because he’s waiting for a call and true enough, he was called up by the San Antonio Spurs to play for the NBA,” added Gregorio.
Dawson’s winning reputation proved to be his ticket to the NBA. He led the Austin Toros to the D-League championship last season and emerged as the Impact Player of the Year. He also helped his respective squads in Korea and Japan win championships.
At 6-foot-9, Dawson isn’t the tallest reinforcement in the Commissioner’s Cup, but Gregorio hopes his wingspan and solid game inside would be enough to compensate for the height deficiency against taller counterparts.
“He has a wingspan of 7-6. I believe he’s an intelligent player because he has that good sense of making his teammates more involved. He’s impressive in our tune up games, but I don’t want to be carried away. I still believe that the proof of the pudding is in the eating,” Gregorio added.
Dawson plays with his back to the basket, but he’s a solid presence on both ends of the court. With Meralco’s system usually depending on their potent three-guard lineup, Gregorio thinks his import would be the right fit for his squad.
“The local players have already accepted their roles, so you just have to bring in the right import who can complement Sol (Mercado), Mac (Cardona), Chris (Ross), Ronjay (Buenafe) and Jay-R (Reyes),” added Gregorio. “I believe Eric Dawson is a good fit for our team.” (RJ)
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