HOWELL PLUGS HOLE IN THE MIDDLE FOR TNT
Talk ‘N Text coach Norman Black paraded Richard Howell as their reinforcement for the 2014 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, and 23-year-old big man immediately showed what he can do in the paint.
Howell pulled down a season-best 30 rebounds in his PBA debut and led the Texters to a rather easy win over defending champion Alaska.
Of his reinforcement, Black said, “He was one of the better players in the (NBA) D-League when we went to recruit him.”
Howell suited up for North Carolina State in his collegiate days and last played for the Idaho Stampede in the NBA D-League. He was taken in to fill the gaping hole in the middle for the Tropang Texters in the advent of Ali Peek’s retirement.
“He’s an inside presence. He’s a good rebounder and good defender. He’s a good inside player and a man on the post. The big difference with him and the other bigs is that he’s not really a back to the basket post-up player, but more of a post player who faces up and makes quick moves to the basket,” Black said.
Peek’s retirement didn’t really come as a surprise to Black and his coaching staff, as he bared that they were preparing for that ever since the start of the season.
“Ali retiring is something we saw coming. Ali’s back was hurting him for at least a year now, so we tried to prepare for that by recruiting Rob Reyes.”
“We’ll miss Ali, but this conference, we have big imports. So we hope the import can take the place of Ali as the center of the team.”
As a number of Talk ‘N Text players are still nursing various injuries since the past conference, Black said he still has to see the chemistry Howell will have with his local crew.
“We’ve got some players injured but we’ll be fine. As to what we’re seeing right now, so far, so good,” Black said. (RL)
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