WHITE DEBUTS AS BOOSTERS FACE TEXTERS
PETRON Blaze has shown it could win without an import.
With Rodney White finally suiting up for the Boosters, Talk N Text has another additional concern when they clash Friday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
A second straight win by Petron would solidify its hold on second-running spot, while TNT is out to bounce back from a sorry setback and claim at least a continued share of fourth.
Although Boosters coach Olsen Racela is not one to say it out loud, momentum seems to be on the side of his team.
For starters, Petron won over Rain or Shine, 87-79, last Saturday despite having no replacement yet for the banished Renaldo Balkman.
The morning after, in came White, who proved to be armed with an all-around game in his short stint with Barako Bull in the same conference last season. In five games with the then-Energy, White averaged 29.8 points, 13.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists.
Racela doesn’t offer any guarantee, though.
“Rodney White brings a different dimension to our team,” he said of the 6-9 former NBA campaigner.
“I just hope he learns our system right away because we are playing a very strong TNT team which just lost its last game. I’m sure they will go all-out for a win against us.”
Indeed, the Tropang Texters are coming off a 100-107 setback to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel last Sunday, a loss which heightened coach Norman Black’s worries about his players’ collective mindset going to this critical juncture of their eliminations campaign.
“We are at the point of the conference where we have to start playing with a sense of urgency. With Petron tomorrow and Rain or Shine Sunday we are at a crossroads,” he said.
“Offensively we are putting points on the board. We just have to recommit to playing defense consistently and it has to start now,” he added. “If we do that then you will see improved performance on our part.” (NC)
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