BATANG PIER PARADE MORGAN VS. EXPRESS
GLOBALPORT’S recent woes may yet turn out to be a blessing in disguise. That is, if new import Sylvester Morgan proves to be as good as advertised.
The 6-foot-10 southpaw arrived Thursday evening, well in time for the Batang Pier’s rematch with Air21 Saturday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“For us, the game versus Air21 is a do-or-die and so it will be for our next four remaining games,” said GlobalPort coach Junel Baculi.
Having lost six in a row, GlobalPort is in dire need of a stabilizer and hopes Morgan can provide it.
“He is versatile, energetic,” related Baculi of the 30-year-old former Georgia State pillar who has strutted his wares in Europe, South America and Asia since turning pro in 2005 and is coming off a stint in the Japanese league.
“I believe he can bring something for our sagging campaign.”
Morgan comes in as replacement for Walter Sharpe, whose stint with the Batang Pier was cut short when he was photographed asleep in the parking lot of a Pasig City bar last Sunday. In two games, the sub for original import Justin Williams averaged just 13.0 points and 7.0 rebounds.
Air21, powered by Michael Dunigan, should prove to be an acid test for Morgan and the rest of GlobalPort.
The Express won their first meeting, 106-94, the first time they met March 10, kicking off what would prove to be a three-game streak for the Bert Lina-owned franchise that was capped by an 87-82 upset over San Mig Coffee last Wednesday.
Now Air21 has a chance to go where it has never been before in its first four conferences in the league, a slot in the upper half of the standings 10 games into the tournament.
Although coach Franz Pumaren expressed a bit of apprehension about the unfamiliar game of Morgan, there is an age-old formula available to his charges. “We have no idea about their new import,” he said.
“I guess we just have to rely on our scouting report to slow down their scorers.”
And then there’s Dunigan. The 23-year-old has been primarily stoking Air21’s surge, his 25 points and 20 rebounds against the Mixers helping maintain his conference averages to 26.3 points and 16.4 rebounds.
“The locals should contribute, especially in defending Dunigan,” stressed Baculi. (NC)
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